Doing the Seventh


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Yesterday, we did something we've never done before (nor has anyone else since the 1920s). We attended the inaugural Seventh Congressional District GOP convention (the state lost it's previous Seventh District in 1931), where a full house turned out for a Saturday morning and afternoon of speeches, wheeling-and-dealing and political chatter galore. Opening with a speech from Governor Nikki Haley and a free breakfast gathering from congressional candidate Andre Bauer, much of the convention dealt with officer and delegate elections, as well as a congressional candidate straw poll. 

The biggest fireworks were a two-round District Chair poll where political novice Elijah Jones from Florence pulled off a close win in a wildly-swinging contest with outgoing Sixth District Chair Tom Grimes with a 58-54 vote. Grimes carried six of the district's eight counties, five of them by nearly unanimous margins, in a race where we saw plenty of childish personalities and personal and misleading attacks from Jones supporters.

Two delegates were elected to the upcoming national convention: Alan Clemmons and Jim Jerow. Another Blogland favorite - Horry County Chair Johnnie Bellamy - will be going as an alternate.

In the congressional straw poll, Myrtle Beach City Councilman Randall Wallace surprised the audience by finishing in an even tie with former Lt. Governor Andre Bauer for first place (this was initially reported as a Wallace win, but a recount of votes which we learned about later created a first-place tie). 

Special thanks to the organizing committee for the event and their hospitality. Special recognition goes to Elijah Jones' wife, who we saw spending at least an hour working by herself to get the lunches set up for convention attendees, even though we're sure she'd rather have been following her husband's candidacy, for extra effort.

9 Response to "Doing the Seventh"

  1. Anonymous 23/4/12 15:13
    There were no misleading attacks on Tom Grimes, he's lower than pond scum. He not part of the real party structure in Florence and none of the elected officals at any level have either any use or respect for him. He like the oh not so famous hourse men are nothing more than horse manure. Personally I hope he never shows his face at a Florence GOP meeting again. If he does I will do my best to make him leave or get thrown out.
  2. Rich Miller 23/4/12 15:32
    Stephanie, if you're going to trash them, at least have the guts to put your name on this. This sounds like what you went around telling people for months.

    I would say we'll wait to see who stands up at the meeting to have them thrown out, but since you didn't put your name on your comments, we know you'd never be big enough to stand up in front of an off-line audience.
  3. Anonymous 23/4/12 16:05
    Earl, the real shame is that you try to give a fair and informed voice to what is taking place out there, and this is the thanks you get from the Florence crowd. That shows real class, but it also explains why every 7th District county except one wanted nothing to do with their candidate and why all but one person who won an office or delegate vote comes from within ten miles of the coast. They're too toxic for anyone to work with and in doing so, their ego trip just about gave the entire convention to the Horry crowd.
  4. earlcapps 23/4/12 19:20
    1513 - do we intimidate you that badly? We're not an organization, we're not an all-powerful club. We're just four guys who hang out by a lake, drink beer and talk politics. But you think you have to beat us? Seriously? Get a freakin' grip. Really.
  5. Anonymous 23/4/12 21:02
    Yawn. Those Florence folks don't have anything better to do but hang around here and SC6 and threaten and talk trash? Oh that's right, it's not like they're winning elections anyway.
  6. mg 23/4/12 21:20
    You guys are bad.
  7. Elijah Jones 25/4/12 12:53
    Earl,

    Thanks for your coverage of the Seventh Convention and for pointing out my wife's (Heather) work on lunch. She was piping hot about the lack of organization for lunch. I appreciate you noticing her efforts for us all.

    Thanks again.
    Elijah
  8. earlcapps 25/4/12 16:58
    Elijah, when I organize events for my company or work-related assocations, things like snacks and lunch are top priorities. You've always got to treat people like customers when they go out of their way to do something they don't have to do, as they did on Saturday, and you certainly don't want people leaving the location to get lunch, because you never get them back in time to get back to business.

    Because she went recognized the importance of this often-overlooked detail and went out of her way to ensure it was under control, it was only fair to go out of our way to recognize her for doing so. One can't thank volunteers enough for a job well done.

    Good luck in the new role.
  9. Randal Wallace 25/5/12 11:43
    Earl,

    Thanks for covering the 7th convention and mentioning our tie with the Lt Gov Bauer at the straw poll. This has been an exciting and fun campaign and I have enjoyed getting to meet you and so many other people through out the months we have been on the road. We are out here working hard and I look forward to June 12.

    Randal

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