Clarendon residents will have one more chance to meet with candidates running Tuesday's primary when the Turbeville Ruritan Club hosts a Meet the Candidates Forum at 7 p.m. today at East Clarendon High School’s cafeteria.
This will be the third such forum held in Clarendon County since early May. The first saw about 10 candidates speak at the Bassard Pond House, an event sponsored by the Clarendon County Democratic Party.
Melina Presbyterian Church and Tia Beion Brogdon, a 23-year-old college student, organized the second meeting, which featured both Republican and Democratic contenders.
Democratic Party Chairwoman Patricia Pringle said topics previously discussed included everything from social issues like LGBT rights and abortion to education and economy.
Candidates present at the Melina forum included Sen. Kevin L. Johnson, D-Manning; Republican candidate for Senated District 36 Rev. Leon Winn; Rep. Robert “Bobby” Ridgeway, D-Manning; Democratic candidates for House District 64 Alexander “Herc” Conyers and Mitch Ellerby; County Council Chairman Dwight Stewart; Democratic candidate for County Council chairman Robert McFadden; Democratic candidates for Probate Judge Margaret “Peggi” Jackson Sorrell, the current deputy probate judge, and Peggy Knox; Democratic candidate for sheriff Tim Baxley; and unopposed incumbents Coroner Hayes Samuels Jr. and Clerk of Court Beulah Roberts.
Asked about abortion, Johnson told those gathered that the issue is settled law, and he therefore has a responsibility to uphold the law
“You have men in the Senate telling women what they can or cannot do with their bodies,” Johnson said. “We can’t overrule federal law.
Winn disagreed, saying “every life is ordained by God.”
“He did not make any mistakes, and every life is precious,” he said.
In his remarks, Stewart hailed the county’s Development Board and new Executive Director George Kosinski, noting several industrial projects in the works. He said the county currently has two certified industrial sites and also a planned megasite.
He said bringing jobs to the northern end of Clarendon County is a “priority.”
“There is a lot of great farmland and timberland, but not a lot of development,” Stewart said.
McFadden told those gathered that education is the key to attracting new industry. He said the county must reduce its tax burden and “manage waste.”
“We can manage things better,” he said.
Turning to issues in the Probate Office, both candidates talked about changes they would implement.
Sorrell, who has served as deputy probate judge under Probate Judge Kathy Geddings since 2015, said it’s important to have an environment “where people feel comfortable, where there’s compassion.”
“We do have people come in when they’ve lost loved ones, and that is a hard time for them,” she said.
She would also like to see the office accept credit and debit cards, along with updates in the computer-generated bookkeeping software.
Knox said she would like to create “superior customer service,” including workshops on services offered by Probate Court. She said she would also like to have the office open one half-Saturday per month for appointments.
Sorrell talked expansion as well, saying she would like the office to perform notary services and weddings for the public.
