The forum moderator at tonight’s CCU Conway Mayoral debate quizzed Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy about her LGBTQ proclamation last June.
The question appeared to cause some consternation with the Conway Mayor. After her opening remarks about how the Bible calls homosexuality an abomination, she added there were many other things in biblical text that she took issue with.
Afterwards, Richardson mentioned that Bellamy said on a public video that crimes against the gay community in Conway were rampant. “I have 20 years of reports, SLED reports, there was not one single hate crime against anybody in the city of Conway,” said Richardson.
Bellamy retorted, “I would just like to say that I deny what was just said. I have no idea what he is talking about.“
However, when MyrtleBeachSC News readers watch the above video, they can see that the Mayor did say that crimes against the gay community were rampant.
We also covered this in an earlier article with the below video included:
As our readers can see, Bellamy did make those statements and a local group called Fair Game pointed to the SLED reports which proved those statements are false.
The video just above pulls the Conway PD hate crimes SLED report showing 0 crimes for the year 2020. The same data shows 0 hate crimes in Conway for 2021. Meanwhile, the video then shifts to crimes against average persons. Crimes against average residents are up 18.6% in Conway. The video then goes on to show a myriad of facts and data proving that Conway Mayor Barbara Blain Bellamy has misplaced priorities.
During the debate each candidate displayed their love and loyalty for Conway.
The candidates talked over a myriad of issues including growth, infrastructure, crime, and creating an environment where HGTC, as well as, Coastal Carolina University students will choose to stay in the area after graduation.
While Blain-Bellamy’s approach is more a San Francisco mindset, focusing on catch phrases that lacked specifics, Richardson’s leadership remarks were targeted and to the point.
Richardson served on the Board of Coastal Carolina University and Horry Georgetown Tech before serving as Horry County School Board President.
Blain-Bellamy is a lawyer and a previous advocate for under-served residents needing legal assistance.
With Richardson promoting conservatism, and Bellamy touting a woke, liberal mindset for all things government, the choices between these two could not be more different.
Early voting has begun. Election day is Tuesday, November 7th.