The death threat culture is nothing new to Horry County Politics.

In the 2020 race between S.C. Senator Luke Rankin and businessman John Gallman, Jess Wnuk, of the Grand Strand Humane Society posted on Facebook in support of Luke Rankin.

Rankin’s wife, Lindsay Bonds Rankin, heads the board of the Grand Strand Humane Society. Senator Rankin responded to the support by providing $1 million in tax payer funds as a gift to the Grand Strand Humane Society.

Examples of the death threat culture and marginalization of Rankin’s Christian opponent can be seen in the thread.

Understanding the Impact of Death Threat Culture

Wrote Wnuk, “There are dozens of reasons that I have always planned to vote for Luke Rankin on June 9th. For anyone considering John Gallman do yourself a favor and read this post.

In the death threat culture post, Tony Hussakowski writes: “Oh girl, let’s lock that bastard in a [International Organization for Standardization] ISO kennel. I sneak down. Just leave the back gate open for me. He be gone by morning.”

The death threat culture post remains, yet local Horry County police have never investigated the thread.

Subsequently, Wnuk’s Grand Strand Humane Society sought a 40-year lease for approximately 10 acres adjacent to the Myrtle Beach Gas Turbine Site in Horry County. This request was approved through a resolution by Santee Cooper’s Water Services and Resource Management Committee (WSRM) for a no-cost lease.

David Singleton, the former chair of Santee Cooper, is a close friend and a major backer of Rankin.

Senator Rankin oversees the Public Utility.

As the State Newspaper published concerning the gift to the Grand Strand Humane Society from Santee Cooper:

Recently, Rankin’s wife gained the Santee Cooper board member’s help in securing a free land lease from the utility for an animal shelter in the Myrtle Beach area. A state oversight panel approved the 40-year-lease Wednesday at a meeting in Columbia. Those connections are now sparking questions about whether Rankin should vote or discuss the legislation in the Senate Judiciary Committee that he chairs.

Lynn Teague, vice president of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina, said she believes Rankin should disclose the relationship when the legislation comes up for debate.

He has publicly revealed the business relationship in state Ethics Commission forms, as well as in legislative screening transcripts, according to Rankin and public records.

But he would be wise to do more, Teague said. “I think he should recuse‘’ himself from voting, said Teague, a critic of the sweeping energy legislation that allows for the large natural gas plant. “At the very least, there certainly should be public knowledge about this.’’

Senator Rankin won the campaign in a runoff with Gallman. The race is considered the dirtiest political race in S.C. History.

Gallman was known for his strong Christian values which were negatively highlighted during the campaign.