Dems Schedule Candidate Events

By Paul Gable

Horry County Democratic voters will get three chances to hear from the candidates for the new 7^th Congressional District across the next several months.

The four announced Democratic candidates, Preston Brittain, Gloria Tinubu, Parnell Diggs and Ted Vick will be at a reception commemorating Black History Month Saturday February 25^th. The reception will be held at the Mason Temple C.O.G.I.C., 1501 7^th Avenue, Conway beginning at 6 p.m.

The reception will offer the opportunity to sample recipes from the Horry County Democratic Party cookbook, meet the guest of honor, Mother Laura Grate who is 104 years old, and meet and speak with the candidates.

The Horry County Democratic clubs are sponsoring a candidate forum at the Ocean Reef Hotel, 7100 North Ocean Boulevard, Myrtle Beach on March 11^th. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the forum running from 5:30-7 p.m. A candidate reception will be held after the completion of the forum.

Seating is limited for the forum. Tickets are free from the local Democratic clubs or the NAACP, but you are encouraged to call Sally Howard 843-455-1936, Steve Chand 843-424-1715 or Mickey James 843-340-2018 in advance to arrange for tickets.

Finally, the 7^th Congressional District candidates will join all other Democratic candidates and incumbents of local, state and national offices at the Historic Galivants Ferry Stump May 7^th.

The Galivants Ferry Stump, which has been held   biennially for more than 136 years, is considered the oldest and largest “stump speaking” in the nation.  Galivants Ferry itself became hallowed grounds for Horry County Democrats when General Wade Hampton arrived there on horseback in late September to initiate his history-making gubernatorial campaign of 1876. This marked the beginning of Democratic dominance in South Carolina politics for the next hundred years.

The 2012 Stump will be held May 7 2012 at Pee Dee Farms, the community’s century-old general store.   Galivants Ferry, which is on the National Registry of Historic Districts, is located on Highway 501 where it   crosses the Little Pee Dee River. The Stump will follow the traditional festival format of bluegrass music and clogging starting at 4:30   p.m. The actual “speaking” will begin at 6:00 p.m. featuring all local, state and national Democratic   candidates.