SCGOP CHAIRMAN WILL NOT SEEK FOURTH TERM, CANDIDATES LINE UP
After seven years leading South Carolina’s Republican Party to unprecedented success, Chairman Katon Dawson announced today that he would not seek reelection at the State Convention in May. And within minutes of the announcement, candidates for Dawson’s coveted post were already lining up.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve made this decision, but it’s just time,” Dawson told members of the State Executive Committee at the quarterly meeting Saturday. “Each of you have become members of my extended family and it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve you as chairman.”
Dawson, who last week came within eight votes of chairing the Republican National Committee, joked that the race to succeed him would probably start before he even had a chance to finish his speech. And he couldn’t have been more correct.
Following Dawson’s address to the group, the committee went into closed session. While the non-committee members waited outside, fliers promoting Spartanburg GOP Chairman Rick Beltram for party chair began circulating around.
But Beltram wasn’t even the first candidate to formally announce his intentions. Columbia attorney Kevin Hall announced more than a month ago that he would seek the post regardless of Dawson’s intentions.
Supporters of another potential candidate, current RNC National Committeeman Glenn McCall, have already launched a “Draft McCall” online petition urging him to run for chairman.
Former Superintendent of Education nominee Karen Floyd and former RNC National Committeeman Drew McKissick are also rumored to be interested in running to lead the state party. And with more than three months until the election, there is still plenty of opportunity for another candidate to enter the race.
But while the uncertain field sorts itself out, the one thing that is for certain is that Dawson’s successor will have some very big shoes to fill. Over the last 16 years, Dawson and his predecessor, Attorney General Henry McMaster, managed to take a blue state and turn it red.
Was Pat Robertson wrong to say the Haiti earthquake was caused by their “pact with the devil”?
- Yes (65%, 258 Votes)
- No (35%, 142 Votes)
Total Voters: 400
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Shouldn’t the title be “Gauleiter”?
Who wants their own vigilante police force?
Who wants to be in charge of the stolen SSA money?
TAKERS???? TAKERS????
yep that’s it… takers.
It wasn’t a blue state; it hasn’t been a blue state since the 70s. (I think Carter was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win here, which is the criteria for which states are blue and which are red.)
IOU, you are an idiot. if you can’t contribute anything keep your mouth shut. as far as the poll goes, Mr. McCall, is clearly the front runner. From what i’ve heard, he’s a real fireball and a true conservative, which is exactly what we need, not just in South Carolina, but in the entire RNC.
Dawson (and McMaster) had no more to do with South Carolina turning Republican than President Bush had to do with Katrina landing in New Orleans.
Frankly Dawson had become an embaressment to both the party and to the state. Like every politician around, he broke his promise to only serve two terms. His membership in an all white club should have caused him to immediately step down, but Dawson’e grand ego continued to force its way forward. He should go back to selling spark plugs and oil filters and be mindful of the simple fact that even the best engine needs a good flush every now and then.
Will Folks for SCGOP Chairman.
My “Other” vote was for Sic Willie, too.