The race for South Carolina Senate District 33 is likely headed for a run-off based on internals MyrtleBeachSC News saw this past weekend.
A group out of Charleston, S.C. conducted an unofficial and non scientific poll asking 1,000 random likely voters in District 33, IF THE ELECTION WERE HELD TODAY, WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR?
The results came back 46.9% Incumbent Luke Rankin, 42.1% front runner Challenger John Gallman, and 11% Carter Smith
THE INCUMBENT LUKE RANKIN
Rankin has been in office since 1992. He is considered the second most entrenched officeholder in the state, second only to Senator Hugh Leatherman of Florence.
Rankin hired the high-powered daughters of an indicted political consultant, Richard Quinn, to run his campaign. Before Quinn’s arrest and indictment, Richard Quinn previously ran all campaigns for Rankin. The daughters just conducted $30,000 in opposition research (largely on the front-running challenger Gallman) this past March.
Under Rankin’s oversight, Santee Cooper and Scanna lost $9 Billion. Former SCANNA executives Keven Marsh and Stephen Byrne are now being pursued by the Federal Government’s Security Exchange Commission.
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION,
Plaintiff,
v.
SCANA CORPORATION,
DOMINION ENERGY SOUTH
CAROLINA, INC. (f/k/a SOUTH
CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS
COMPANY),
KEVIN B. MARSH, and
STEPHEN A. BYRNE,
Defendants.
https://www.sec.gov/litigation/complaints/2020/scana-complaint-022720.pdf
As the Associated Press reported in February: On the advice of their lawyers, four current and former executives from South Carolina’s state-owned utility refused to attend a Senate meeting held in February discussing whether to sell the business.
HAND PICKED EXECUTIVES WHOM RANKIN CHAIRED OVERSIGHT REFUSED TO TESTIFY
Current Santee Cooper executives Michael Crosby, senior vice president of nuclear energy, and Marion Cherry refused to appear on the advice of their attorney. Santee Cooper CEO Mark Bonsall said both men were told not to testify to protect their constitutional rights.
Former Santee Cooper CEO Lonnie Carter and former board chairman Leighton Lord also refused to testify.
Controversy surrounds Rankin on multiple issues including his high seat on the Judicial Merit Select Commission (JMSC). This group hand picks all S.C. Judges. Rankin is a lawyer by trade. JMSC lawyers often try cases in front of judges the group themselves hand picked.
Rankin is one of two key Senators blocking the heartbeat bill. The heartbeat bill would outlaw most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, roughly in the sixth week of pregnancy.
Rankin also consistently blocks legislation for open carry. Open carry of a handgun is prohibited in the State of S.C.
LEADING CHALLENGER JOHN GALLMAN
John Gallman is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
Gallman is a grass roots conservative. He champions full accountability in the Santee Cooper debacle. He supports the Hearbeat Bill. Gallman supports S.C. Judicial reform.
Gallman also supports fixing our broken roads in Horry County. He believes “fixing our roads” is a promise made by the state which must be fulfilled.
Politics in Columbia, S.C. is a rough and tumble affair.
Ask Johnny Gardner (Horry County Council Chairman) or Bob Hellyer (Surfside Beach Mayor) what can happen to outsiders who win.
The system encircles to limit any influence a resident-minded candidate can have once elected. In short, getting elected is actually easier than being able to govern once elected. In choosing a senator who can get results, voters must select a candidate who has strong ethics, an inner discipline, an ability to navigate the cumbersome system, and a strong will to fight.
Gallman believes Horry County needs a resident focused candidate who can and will fight for our area. John says he will never buy into the Columbia, S.C. republican in name only mindset.
Gallman also states that he will give 100% of his S.C. Senate salary to Horry County charities.
Gallman has the will, the competence, and the ability to fight for Horry County residents and beat the rigged system.
Even the best intended outsiders often lack this type of skill set.
NEWCOMER CARTER SMITH
Carter Smith is a registered nurse. Smith currently stands at 11% in unofficial polling.
Smith is the “key man” employee of his wife’s and his charity, Coastline Women’s Center.
Viewing their charity’s financials at GuideStar.org, Smith’s wife, Jeannie Scott Smith, is listed as the FOUNDER, C.E.O. Carter Smith is listed as Co-founder, C.F.O. The board includes: Mark Hendrick, Paula Gross, James Davis, and Michael Acquilano.
Coastline Women’s Center educates, supports and empowers women facing unplanned pregnancies with compassionate and professional medical care.
As the only staff nurse for the center, Carter is clearly considered the “key man” at the facility.
Coastline’s website states: At your appointment, you will meet with a nurse (Carter Smith) who will provide you with a free ultrasound to confirm a viable pregnancy and estimate how far along you are. It is important to find out how far along you are when considering abortion. Medical services are provided free of charge by licensed medical personnel.
IMPERATIVE SMITH BE ONSITE
As the key man of the operation, it is imperative that Smith or another hired (replacement) nurse be onsite constantly. From looking at the Charity’s 2018 tax filing, the firm was in the red $17,000 in 2018 after giving Smith a raise. He currently is paid $50,000 annually. The charity roughly takes in $340,000 annually. Smith’s wife makes $42,000 as the C.E.O.
On a Saturday radio show, Smith stated that bringing in an outside nurse would cost the firm $80,000.00. As the charity is currently operating at margin, hiring another nurse at $80,000 is impossible.
Hear Carter Smith on air above.
SCHEDULING CONFLICTS
The annual session of the General Assembly convenes at the State Capitol Building in Columbia on the second Tuesday of January of each year. Typically the annual session cycle adjourns mid May. This year it is scheduled to adjourn on May 14, 2020.
Smith has no other listed income outside of the charity. S.C. Senators make only $10,000 annually.
PERFORMING BOTH ROLES
Coastline Women’s Center promotes an available nurse as being on staff full time. Smith is that nurse. How does he operate in Columbia as a Senator (5) five months out of the year and also fulfill his duties at Coastline Women’s Center?
TOUGH CHOICES
The charity will be required to make tough choices, should Smith make a meteoric last minute rise in the polls.
Does Coastline Women’s Center cut Smith’s pay? Can they find a temp nurse willing to work from just January to May?
Does Smith step down from the organization entirely?
We asked Smith those questions via text.
Blanket, Global Response
Smith responded, “Absolutely, God will give me the ability to serve both. All Senators have a career in which they share their time and responsibilities. I will never neglect the calling God has on me for Coastline Women’s Center or Senate.”
While it is true that Senators also work in private practice, Rankin can easily practice law while he is in Columbia. Gallman can certainly do financial advising away from his office via phone and computer.
How does a “Face to Face” nurse consultant meet with pregnant women in Horry County while physically being in Columbia, S.C.?
Smith added, “Let’s schedule a time for you to come out and meet with both Jeannie and me.“
We asked Smith many tough questions.
Each time we did, he consistently pointed us to meet with him when his wife could be present. As she is not running for Senate, we have not scheduled that meeting as of yet. However, we do intend to.