FROM THE DESK OF: Speak, and Be Heard.
By: Taft Matney
If you’ve opened a paper or watched the 6:00 news lately, you have a pretty good idea that there are a lot of questions surrounding this Tuesday’s party primary elections in South Carolina. It’s even gotten to the point where one county went so far as to postpone its primary.
Hundreds of candidates, both Democrat and Republican, have been kicked off their respective party ballots for not complying with the law as it relates to filing for candidacy.
What it boils down to is this. If you’re not a public official, you have to file a Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) when you file your candidacy. If you’re already elected and have to file your annual SEI in accordance with the ethics laws, you can file it at your regular time and don’t have to turn it in when you file for reelection or for election to another office.
If you don’t file the right forms at the right time and in the right way, the court says you cannot be certified as a candidate. The South Carolina Supreme Court has said the law is very clear. Unfortunately while the law may be clear in its requirements, the methods to fulfill those requirements are murky at best.
The primary is one day away, so short of postponing the elections across the state, the primary will go on as scheduled.
That means you need to do two things.
First, vote. Whether you’re political or not, whether you’re Republican or Democrat, there’s no reason not to vote. Find the candidate or party that comes closest to matching your views, and cast your vote.
Second, there are going to be a lot of new faces in the General Assembly next year – some due to retirement and others who won’t win reelection. Call or email your House and Senate members. Let them know the confusion that’s happening with this primary election shouldn’t happen again. Tell them the law should be clear enough that anyone wanting to file for public office shouldn’t need a team of lawyers to decipher candidate requirements.
No matter what else you do this week, on Tuesday speak, and be heard. It’s your responsibility.
