GREER POLITICS

Mike Burns wins election to House District 17 MAR 12

Mike Burns won election to South Carolina House of Representatives District 17 Tuesday night.

Republican Mike Burns, a Travelers Rest businessman, won election to South Carolina House of Representatives District 17 Tuesday night, putting an end to a special election process initiated when Greer Sen. Philip Shoopman withdrew his candidacy after the filing period. Burns was unopposed when no Democrat and no write-in filed.

Burns received just over 800 votes with a dozen write-ins submitted.

Mike Burns will be the only name on the ballot in a special election on March 12. No Democrat filed for District 17, in northern Greenville County.

Mike Burns will ask voters to go the polls one more time. The state Election Commission ruled that Greenville County must hold a special election March 12 to fill the vacant House District 17 seat.

Burns, who defeated Chris Sullivan in a Republican primary runoff, will be the only name on the ballot. No Democrat filed for District 17, in northern Greenville County.

Mike Burns won the Republican primary runoff tonight for District 17. Burns won 55 percent of the vote. Burns and his wife, Anne, pose after the unofficial final tally was announced.

Mike Burns beat Chris Sullivan today in the Republican primary runoff for the House District 17 seat representing northern Greenville County. Burns received 1,383 votes and Sullivan 1,134.

No Democrat filed for the seat and unless one does after today’s runoff, Burns could be sworn in without requiring a special election on March 12.

Burns, Sullivan in runoff for House District 17 JAN 23

Mike Burns and Chris Sullivan will face a runoff on Feb. 5 in the Republican Primary for the House District 17 seat representing northern Greenville County.

Burns missed outright election by eight votes, needing 50 percent plus one vote, in Tuesday’s primary, getting 49.96 percent. He received 1,114 votes, among five candidates. Sullivan received 874 votes.

Burns and Sullivan own businesses in Travelers Rest.

No Democrat filed for the seat and unless one does after the Feb. 5 runoff, the Burns-Sullivan winner could be sworn in without requiring a special election on March 12.

Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC-District 4) had his third bill of the 112th Congress signed into law.

Rep. Trey Gowdy had his third bill of the 112^th Congress signed into law. The Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2012 (H.R. 2076) was signed by President Obama Tuesday.

Only 12 out of 435 members had three or more bills become law. He has introduced seven bills with the language from “Military Commissions Guilty Plea Adjustment Act” (H.R. 1894) was included in the National Defense Authorization Act. NDAA became law on December 31, 2011.

The law allows state and local law enforcement officials involved in the investigation of mass killings and other violent acts to request assistance from the law enforcement agencies within the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. It clarifies the support and places these acts of aid within the scope of Federal employment.

“As we have seen all too recently, federal law enforcement authorities can play an important role in the investigation of heinous criminal acts. Tragically, our country has seen instances where this is helpful in places as disparate as movie theaters, college campuses, and even elementary schools,” Gowdy said.

“The bill gives statutory coverage to the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies to assist in the investigation of mass killings or other violent crimes, when requested by state and local law enforcement,” Gowdy said. “This bill does not enlarge the jurisdiction of federal law enforcement but does enable aid to be rendered upon request by state and local law enforcement officials.”

“As a former state and federal prosecutor, I have seen firsthand state, local and federal agents working together. It is my hope the involvement of federal agencies and their contribution of specialized skills, access and knowledge will be instrumental in ensuring justice is quickly served.”

Legislators who spoke at the First Friday Luncheon were, from the left: Tom Corbin, Lee Bright, Tommy Stringer, Donna Smith was the moderator, Dan Hamilton, Rita Allison and Phyllis Hernderson.

The seven legislators representing Greer appeared in a brief forum at the First Friday luncheon at Greer City Hall.

The audience was briefed on their agendas and what they believed to be the key issues facing the legislature when it begins its session Tuesday in Columbia.

Below is a review of what they see the most important items on the agenda. Links to each legislatator is provided.

Rep. Tommy Stringer, representing District 18, mulled the question of society being takers or givers. “I think the question is are we still a society of producers,” Stringer said.

“We’re not doing a good enough job showing young people to be producers. Increase awareness and attractiveness of doing that is good,” Stringer said. “In government, what we need is the positive of controlling your own destiny.”

Stringer suggests education is the means for South Carolina to move forward in becoming more focused mentoring its population to become viable producers.

Stringer and other Greer elected officials have been invited to the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday luncheon at Greer City Hall Friday 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Stringer is on the Education and Public Works committees in the legislature.

Q: What do you consider the biggest issues facing the 2013 legislature?

Congressman Tim Scott will be sworn in Jan. 3 to replace Jim DeMint, Gov. Nikki Haley announced her selection Monday. Scott, 47, will be sworn in Jan. 3 to replace DeMint.

News, staff reports

Congressman Tim Scott was selected by fellow Republican Gov. Nikki Haley Monday to take over the seat being vacated by Jim DeMint.

Chris Sullivan has filed for the special election for House District 17.

Chris Sullivan announced Monday night that he will seek the Republican nomination in the special election for House District 17. He made the announcement at the Executive Committee meeting of the county Republican Party.

“It is more important than ever that we send a representative to Columbia who will fight for our conservative principles and local values,” Sullivan said. “This last election proved that we must work harder than ever to protect our rights under the constitution. The next four years will bring some serious challenges and I want to be there to stand up to the intrusion of the Federal government.

Tommy Stringer (Rep. District 18)

I am grateful to Sen. DeMint for his leadership in the Senate and his unassailable commitment to conservative values. He will be sorely missed.

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) announced today that he will leave the Senate at the beginning of January to become the next president of The Heritage Foundation, the largest and most respected conservative think tank in America.

"It's been an honor to serve the people of South Carolina in United States Senate for the past eight years, but now it's time for me to pass the torch to someone else and take on a new role in the fight for America's future.

OK, so now we know poll workers aren't zoologists.

Friend and Greer resident Bob Anderson found that out when a stuffed giraffe belonging to toddler son Bobby was deemed "political propaganda" by a poll worker Tuesday morning as the family waited to vote.

Incumbents, unopposed confirmed with little fanfare NOV 7

A host of incumbent or unopposed candidates made their way back into office Tuesday night following elections held in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

The unopposed winners, all Republicans, are:

Greer voting on presidential race NOV 7

Here's how the vote broke down throughout the Greer Area.

Gowdy elected to serve a second term in the House NOV 7

Incumbent Trey Gowdy (Republican) was an overwhelming winner to serve another term in the U.S. House of Representatives representing District 4.

Gowdy beat his democrat rival Deb Morrow by a 2-1 margin. He received 107,426 votes of all Greenville County Districts reporting to Morrow's 50,581. Gowdy earned 65.32 percent of the votes and Morrow gathered 39.75 percent.

Greenville County Election Summary NOV 6

GREENVILLE COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS

The Sugar Creek Recreation Center polling precinct had a mild turnout this morning with one voter saying the process – sign in to voting – only took 17 minutes.

Polls opened this morning in Greer with cold, rainy weather greeting most of the voters at their precincts.

"It's raw out here," said a man leaving Riverside High School. The weather was expected to clear by mid-afternoon with temperaures remaining in the 40s with a brisk wind making it feel colder.

70 percent of voters expected for Tuesday's elections NOV 5

Election officials in Greenville County are expecting a turnout similar to the 2008 Presidential election when polls open early Tuesday morning.

“I think we’ll be looking at about 70 percent (of registered voters) who will vote,” said Greenville County Election Commissioner Conway Belangia. “I don’t think there will be much of a fall off.”