Conway, S.C. Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy faces an April hearing on 5 counts of campaign violations. Her campaign management team of Lucky Dog Promotions, owned by Donald Smith, is listed in the complaint.
The ethics complaint reads: The State Ethics Commission has determined that there is probable cause to section 8-13-320(10)(i) and (j) code of laws, South Carolina, 1976, as amended in the complaint. The complaint lists 5 counts of campaign violations and sets a date for a hearing on April 13, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. in Columbia, S.C.
Barbara Blain-Bellamy is charged with multiple violations including accepting cash exceeding the “cash contribution limit” of $25 per each individual donor. She is also charged with failure to disclose campaign contributions, failure to disclose campaign expenditures, failure to deposit campaign contributions, and failure to file a campaign disclosure report.
Barbara Blain-Bellamy has the right to be represented by counsel, the right to call and examine witnesses, the right to introduce exhibits, and the right to cross-examine opposing witnesses. This hearing will be open to the public as required by Section 8-13-320(10)(j), Code of Laws, South Carolina,
5 counts of campaign violations
Complaint 1
Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy is charged with “Failure to Disclose Campaign Contributions.” That Barbara J. Blain-Bellamy, City of Conway Mayor, did in Richland County, fail to report campaign contributions from: (1) Robert Bellamy in the amount of $350.00; (2) three (3) personal contributions totaling $2,900.00; (3) Priscilla Fuller in the amount of $250.00; (4) George Brown in the amount of $150.00; and (5) Caroline Winds Realty in the amount of $250.00, in violation of Section 8-13-1308(F).
Priscilla Fuller is listed on LinkedIn as the Chief Compliance Officer for Nonprofit Organization Management team “Services for the UnderServed”.
Carolina Winds Realty is located at 1905 Main St. in Conway, SC. Per its website: Future development plans include a planned single-family community in the Conway area just off Highway 501.
Count 2
FAILURE TO DISCLOSE CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURE
That Barbara Blain-Bellamy, City of Conway Mayor, did in Richland County, fail to report campaign expenditures to: (1) Mason Temple Church of God in Christ in the amount of $250.00; (2) four (4) contributions totaling $3,781.88 to Duplicates Ink Print; (3) Lucky Dog Productions in the amount of $1,000.00; (4) Erica Kendell in the amount of $75.00; and (5) Travis Marshall in the amount of $500.00, in violation of Section 8-13-1308(F).
During the election, we reported that Duplicates Ink, located in Conway, S.C., has been a consistent client of Lucky Dog Promotions owned by Donald Smith. However, Mayor Bellamy failed to disclose a payment of $3,781.88 to Duplicates Ink, as mentioned in the complaint. Additionally, she did not disclose a payment of $1,000 made to Lucky Dog Promotions.
Questions regarding whether the payments to Duplicates Ink were made by Lucky Dog or whether the payments were made by the Barbara Blain-Bellamy Campaign during the campaign cycle remained unresolved.
Duplicates Ink provides campaign printing materials for prominent political figures such as Horry County State Senator Luke Rankin and his past campaign rival, Autry Benton. Benton was a client of Lucky Dog promotions as well.
COUNT 3
FAILURE TO DEPOSIT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
That Barbara J. Blain-Bellamy, City of Conway Mayor, did in Richland County, fail to deposit four (4) campaign contributions totaling $450.00 into her campaign bank account, in violation of Section 8-13-1312.
COUNT FOUR
FAILURE TO FILE CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE REPORT
That Barbara J. Blain-Bellamy, City of Conway Mayor, did in Richland County, fail to file a 2023 Quarter 4 Campaign Disclosure Report, in violation of Section 8-13-1308(B)
COUNT FIVE
ACCEPTANCE OF CASH EXCEEDING CASH CONTRIBUTION LIMIT
That Barbara J. Blain-Bellamy, City of Conway Mayor, did in Richland County, accept three (3) cash contributions over $25.00, in violation of Section 8-13-1314(A)(2).
