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The truth about those flyers
Compton, Nicholson not tied to flyers
By JENNIFER COLTON/Index-Journal staff writer
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 12:28 AM EDT
Say it ain’t so.
Mailers advocating against both candidates for South Carolina state Senate District 10 have recently popped up in city mail boxes, claiming Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson is a pick-pocket and attorney Dee Compton is against public education. Monday, both candidates issued statements denying involvement in the campaigns.
“No candidate can coordinate with any of these third-party groups, whether it’s a 527 organization or a committee, state law makes that clear,” Compton said. “Neither one of us knew about any of this stuff until it hit the mailboxes.”
Both flyers were issued by different third parties. Dee Compton’s flyer was paid for by the cryptic “SCSDC,” and the mailer with Nicholson’s name came from South Carolinians for Responsible Government.
“What we do is issue advocacy,” said Neil Mellen, communications director for South Carolinians for Responsible Government. “Issue advocacy groups are an important part of the process separate from the candidates.
“A lot of folks are very interested in one issue. For example, folks are frustrated with big spending or public school quality. People are very passionate about those issues.”
Mellen said the organization presents voters with statistics and background information without political rhetoric.
“People want to see a little bit of background, another voice examining the record,” he said. “Issue advocacy groups, because they have that narrow focus on policy concerns, are often in a better position to report where lawmakers, public officials stand on an issue.
“They offer unique insight, and I think realizing where someone has stood historically is a good indication of where they’re going to be involved in the future.”
SCRG takes its information from numerous public sources, including posted minutes of councils, budget control board figures and records from the legislative audit council.
“The Internet is really exciting, there’s a lot of information out there. The tough thing is having the time, patience and wherewithal to dig deeply and bring all this up. That’s what we do,” Mellen said.
The organization focuses on political races and issues across South Carolina, especially in the state House and Senate, which is where the criticism of local candidates comes in.
“We’re involved in various races based on the issues that we think are important,” Mellen said. “We’re not going to be coordinating with any specific candidate, in accordance with state law, and we wouldn’t because that would go against what we’re working for: transparency.
“We hope other people will look at what we do, then do the research and find out where the issues are. We see this as a great opportunity to educate people.”
Nicholson confronted the mailer head on.
“When I first saw it, I said, �well, yes,’ and I just let it roll off my back. Yes, I did support (the tax increases), but I didn’t do it myself. How can I do this on my own when I’m only one vote?” he said.
The flyer questions Nicholson on a 2008 property tax increase, the 13 percent increase in the 2007 budget from 2006 and the adoption of two new taxes: an accommodations tax and a 2 percent hospitality tax on prepare food and beverages.
“Yes, we have an accommodations tax � the county has one, too � and that is on staying in hotel rooms. Local people shouldn’t be paying these taxes,” he said. “And yes, we have the hospitality tax. I think it’s been an asset and has allowed us to enhance the quality of life in Greenwood.”
Since its adoption in 2006, the hospitality tax has generated $2.99 million used for numerous projects, as well as an additional $1.88 million in grant funding, including the Federal Building Visitors Center, Greenwood Community Theatre renovations, the Museum, Greenwood County Library, Benjamin Mays Historic Site, Festival of Discovery and Live After 5, Nicholson said.
The tax increase, he said, was needed to maintain the quality of services in Greenwood, such as purchasing a new ladder truck for the fire department, building a new fire substation and incurred increases in medical insurance and benefits for employees.
“I stand behind each vote that I have (in every case) for a tax increase and will be happy to share with you the reasons I felt they were necessary,” he said in his statement. “An elected official is called upon to make difficult decisions, and they are not always popular decisions.”
Compton also addressed the information in the mailer against him and suggested part of the fascination with the 2008 District 10 race stems from the longevity of its predecessor. Democratic Sen. John Drummond, of Ninety Six, held the seat for more than 40 years, and the new opportunity has caused many third-party groups to weigh in on the matter.
“I don’t blame my opponent for these because I know he had no connection to them,” Compton said. “Any body can go to my Web site and see what I stand for. That includes groups for and against me. I want to be judged on my record for the taxpayers and my positive message of reform.”
The most recent anti-Compton flyer focuses on $33,000 in contributions from out-of-state donors and suggests the attorney supports school choice vouchers because of the contributions. The flyer claims it used an Index-Journal article as a source, yet provides the incorrect publication date and adds, “What else is he hiding?”
“There’s a difference between addressing someone’s record factually as opposed to creating an insinuation or making something up that directly contradicts my public statements. I do not support (school) vouchers. No ifs, ands or buts,” he said. “I don’t support vouchers, I support improving education.”
Compton re-iterated he had no prior knowledge of the anti-Nicholson publications and that any mail from his campaign would include his name, address and cell phone, number as well as “Paid for by Compton for Senate.”
“All of my mail has been embossed with my logo; my television commercials have my logo on them. All of my mail or media has my logo, all of my mail or media say it was paid for with my campaign, and all of my mail or media have a positive message about issues in this community,” he said.
Nicholson and Compton said they hope voters will recognize who the messages come from and not assume the opponent has anything to do with it.
“I never picked a pocked, and I never run a negative campaign,” Nicholson said. “I just show what I have done. If I can’t be elected on that, that’s it. I’m not going to throw stones.
“If you’re going to send out anything negative, don’t plan on including me.”