Jody Gaulin Running for SC State House.2

Big Wins in SC

We live for Tuesdays. Usually we have to wait until November for an all-nighter following results, but every once in a while a day like yesterday sneaks onto the calendar. 

You know all about the special election in Pennsylvania, I'm sure. Headlines across the country this morning read a lot like this one from the New York Times: Strong Performance by Democrat Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania Shakes Trump and G.O.P. We'll take that any day of the week. His district voted for Trump by 20 points! 20! Trump only won South Carolina by 15. Many of our Republican-held Congressional districts are more competitive than the seat Lamb now represents in Washington. And the Republicans out-spent Lamb by a ridiculous margin throughout his race. If this race tells us anything about November, it is that we can win in the South.  

There's been a whole lot of talk about a Blue Wave, as if it's some magical force that will sweep across the country and elect Democrats to every office. We also know that it's not quite that simple. It requires hard work, day after day, by dedicated candidates, staff, and Party volunteers to eke out the tough wins like the ones from yesterday.

I want to put a face on the start of that Blue Wave in South Carolina: Rev. WC Honeycutt Jr from Seneca — South Carolina's newest City Councilman. He won a seat on the Seneca City Council yesterday by a margin of 6 votes! In an election with a small turnout on a cold Tuesday in March, he flipped a seat in an area that has long been dominated by Republicans. He did it the old fashioned way and we couldn't be prouder of all the work that he and his team put in.

Both of these candidates, who are now elected officials, did something very straightforward: they got up off the bench, put their name on the ballot, and met the voters where they are. They didn't win by huge margins, but they got the job done. We want you to join them in office. If you're Ready to Run for the school board, Congress, or anything in between, now is your time. Fill out this form to let us know, and we'll be there with you every step of the way. 

Speaking of the bench, today students across the country are walking out of their classrooms to demand safer schools, to call on Congress to pass gun control measures, and to memorialize the victims of the Parkland, FL shooting. This is not the end of their activism, either. On March 24th, there will be a nationwide March for our Lives, including local South Carolina marches. We're completely behind these students and are so proud of everything they're doing to change the country and South Carolina for the better — they are our future and we can't wait for them to run for office!

Trav Robertson

SCDP

Honeycutt Edges out Pohl

SENECA — Political newcomer and pastor W.C. Honeycutt Jr. edged out incumbent Stuart Pohl in Tuesday’s municipal election to earn a seat on Seneca City Council, joining the three incumbents who retained their spots.

The votes still have to be certified by the Oconee County Board of Voter Registration and Elections during a meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday at the county administration offices located at 415 South Pine Street in Walhalla.

Seneca City Councilman-elect W.C. Honeycutt Jr. and Seneca City Councilman Scott Durham laugh with each other outside the Shaver Recreational Complex on Tuesday. Honeycutt Jr. edged out an incumbent in the municipal election, while Durham retained his seat as the top vote-getter. Rex Brown | The Journal

Joy Scharich, executive director of the elections board, said the board has five provisional ballots to consider at that meeting before certifying the results.

Honeycutt Jr. won fourth place with 354 votes and was ahead of councilman Stuart Pohl’s 348 votes by six votes Tuesday night.

When Honeycutt Jr. was told he had a six-vote lead with only five provisional ballots to consider on Thursday, he responded, “Oh wow.”

He said Tuesday night he was grateful to the people of Seneca who voted to entrust him with leadership and serve them in the city.

“I think of myself as a servant leader and that means that even though I am in leadership, I want to serve the people of the community and do all I can to represent them in the best way possible,” he said.

Councilmen Scott Durham and Joel Ward and councilwoman Denise Rozman retained their seats on Tuesday.

Durham was elected to a third four-year term as the top vote-getter with 487 votes, while Ward received 460 votes for second place and Rozman won 394 votes for third ahead of Honeycutt Jr.

Durham said he was “humbled” by the win and was glad the people of Seneca have confidence in him.

“I feel I do what I say I’m going to do,” Durham said. “I keep my word. I don’t go back on my word. I want to work hard for the city, and I have worked hard for the city.”

Durham said he is excited for Honeycutt Jr. as the new member of council.

“People vote for whom they want,” Durham said. “I’m excited to work with him. Whomever the people want, that’s who we work with.”

After securing a fifth term on council, Ward said he was “excited about getting back to work” and honored to be a part of the city.

“I think the experience I brought to council helped a lot,” Ward said. “I think the issues at hand that we’re up against over the next few years will help me make decisions that will make Seneca a place that everyone wants to live.”

Rozman won a second term and said she was “thankful” for every person who voted in the election and “appreciated” the people who voted for her.

“I think they were able to see through some of the negative things that were said about me, and they realized that I did do a good job,” Rozman said. “I think people want to see Seneca progress and be the best it can be. I want to help carry that vision forward.”

Rozman said she was “very sad” that Pohl lost. Rozman said Pohl is a good man and has done good things for the city over the last four years.

“I can’t change the fact that (Pohl) didn’t win, so I welcome Mr. Honeycutt Jr. to the council,” Rozman said.

Pohl said he appreciated the four years the voters gave him to represent the city and enjoyed his tenure.

“To say the least, I’m very disappointed, but it’s up to the voters,” Pohl said. “It’s not up to me.”

Only 713 voters cast ballots out of a total of 5,433 total registered voters a voter turnout of just 13.12 percent — down a little more than 1 percent from 2014.

Candidates for OCDP Executive Committee

At the County Convention on March 6th at 6:00 p.m., Gignilliant Center, delegates will vote for the executive committee who will represent the Oconee County Democratic Party for the next 2 years.  Nominations will also be taken from the floor.  The slate of candidates are:

Paulette Keffas-Chassin  Chair   Gail Johnson 1st Vice Chair   Steve Sperry 2nd Vice Chair   Kathy Ehlert 3rd Vice Chair   Bruce Marshall Executive Committeeman   Derek Lampe Alternate   Jody Guy Gaulin Executive Committeewoman   Ruth May Alternate

Rev. W.C. Honeycutt running for Seneca City Council

Reverend Honeycutt is running in the Seneca City Council election on March 13.  There are 6 candidates running for 4 open seats.  OCDP will be making phone calls and placing campaign signs for Rev. Honeycutt.  If you are interested, please contact us at oconeescdems@gmail.com

Frank Powell of Foothills Sierra Club to speak at February Breakfast

Join OCDP at the February Breakfast, Saturday, February 17.  The coffee social starts at 9am and meeting at 9:30.  Frank will focus on the local level. Invariably, personal behavior has much to do with environmental footprint.  There are some reasonable things we can do to "make a difference".

Join us as we also have a brief party update and share news on the upcoming Democratic County Convention, March 6.

Seneca City Council Candidate Forum

On February 12, Oconee County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a candidate forum at Gignilliat Center, 621 N Townville St, Seneca, from 6 to 7:30 pm.  If you are a city resident, you can submit questions for the candidates.  For more information:  http://www.oconeechambersc.com/event-2822511?CalendarViewType=0&SelectedDate=2/12/2018

February 2018 Business Meeting

 

The OCDP Business meeting Monday night was an extension of our well-attended Precinct Organization last week.  Twenty-six people attended with over 15 precincts represented. Business discussed included the precinct meeting and plans for the March 6 County Convention, the State Convention, and the June 3 FUNdraiser.  We heard updates from the WC Honeycutt (Seneca city council) campaign, Mary Geren (3rd congressional) campaign, and Hosea Cleveland (3rd congressional).  OCDP Chair Paulette Keffas-Chassin also hinted there may be a couple more candidate announcements soon.  SC Democratic Chair, Trav Robertson, was in attendance.  The Blue Tsunami is rolling….