Well, it was off to another County GOP meeting in a new territory for us last night... With the new district, we're learning about new places - and meeting a lot of new people. We've made plenty of friends along the years working in the 6th District, but it's always nice to earn new friendships with people that haven't been tainted by others feelings. Every new county is an open book, and I get to write new chapters with each one...
Last night, it was off to Bennettsville, South Cackilacky for the Marlboro County GOP meeting. Like you might expect, Marlboro County doesn't have a ton of Republicans - or at least those willing to meet. Usually, meetings like these disappoint a bit... People don't ask questions, you chat a little, take a few pics - and not much changes. Marlboro was one of the more interesting meetings I've been to in a while, especially if you take out the ones where there's an argument going on!
The main speaker last night was 7th District candidate Jay Jordan of Florence, but from the way things went, you might not know that. I got an idea of that when they asked questions to Tom Grimes and Tommy Phillips. No one ever asks questions of the intra-party candidates, but Marlboro is an open book, kind of.... It's a group that has a long way to go be a force locally, and many of them aren't quite sure how to get there. In all honesty, the Tommy's talked way more than Jordan did, and I felt pretty bad for him. But, these people have basic questions about where to go from here, and the Tommy's have the experience to guide them in the right direction. That is where their value is: experience....
It went on for a solid hour and a half, and it went all over the political field, both locally, statewide and national. Jay Jordan was more than patient with the discussions going on, but the discourse didn't lend itself an opportunity to really let him stretch his legs. The GOP turf is weak and spotty. These people need to learn how to take nothing, and make something out of it, and they're not very sure on how to do it. Last night, they got some ideas. If I were them, I'd sit down with Moye Graham and he can point them in the right direction. With a little work, the grass can grow, and a nice green, fertile field will be there - but it isn't easy...
Marlboro isn't the easiest place to turn around, but there is room for improvement. Hwy 38 is a four lane straight shot off of I-95, so a coordinated effort to bring industry there is possible, if the area is set up for it sewer and powerwise... It also has a downtown area much prettier than Florence. It still stuns me how Florence can't revovate a 3 block area, but Hartsville, Sumter, Marion and Bennettsville all have..
It was a nice surprise to see a small county filled with people that interested in every aspect of their county. Thanks to Patrick Coxe, County Chair, and everyone else who came out...
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