A re-election year in Landrum, South Carolina

Landrum, South Carolina, is a pretty little town in Spartanburg County, with a few antique stores and a "hayrack" that caters to old-time farmers, peach-growers and the growing community of horsemen and horsewomen -- or equestrians, as they prefer -- who are retiring from elsewhere to Landrum and to Tryon, North Carolina, just four or five miles to the north. The best place to get a homemade-chicken-salad sandwich is at the Hare and Hound, a pub and grill in Landrum's "historic" district, the stretch of three or four blocks that is the heart of the town. That chicken salad is made with almonds and a honey sauce, served on a croissant, and is called the "Honey Child."

Landrum is that sort of town -- happy with its niche in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, proud of its traditions and its pace of life, and hospitable to tourists and new residents alike.

For most of his life, Landrum has been home to Bob Walker, who was born there in 1942 and came back to live and work there after earning a degree at USC and serving in the U.S. Air Force through the 1960s. Bob and his wife raised their son there, and he ran a small insurance and real estate business there. He thrived there. He sat on the board of directors of the local bank, became a lifetime member of the local PTA, joined the local Lions Club and was made a deacon at Landrum First Baptist Church. Bob was such a fixture in the life of Landrum that he was named its Citizen of the Year in 1979.

In 1983, Landrum's citizens elected Bob again, this time to serve on the local school board, and re-elected him to that seat again and again until 1992, when they elected him to represent them in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

And seven more times, the voters of Landrum and its surrounding communities returned Bob Walker to the State House. For a total of sixteen years, he thrived there too, earning a seat on its Education and Public Works Committee, then becoming its vice chairman, and finally its chairman. When new school accountability measures were enacted in the 1990s and a new commission was established to oversee their implementation, Bob was appointed to that commission, too. One of the most successful and effective lawmakers ever to come from tiny Landrum held a position of authority over every matter that affected all of South Carolina's schools and public works.

Earlier this year, when Bob filed to run for re-election to a ninth term of office, most people assumed he would sail into it without a problem. More to the point, most people assumed that Bob would represent District 38 in the State House until he chose to retire on his own. But it didn't happen that way.

In January, the 28-year-old Republican chairman of Bob's home precinct hosted a public forum on illegal immigration. Though the issue can hardly be resolved by a state legislature, both Bob and Senator Jim Ritchie attended to assure voters that they were concerned, attentive and supportive of their national party's positions. Fewer than 30 people attended the forum, but a visit by Iowa Congressman Steve King ensured it might be covered by local media.

And it was covered, but not by the large regional papers, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal or the Greenville News. It was covered by Tryon (North Carolina) Daily Bulletin, which celebrates its miniature editions -- a newsletter of 8 1/2 by 11 inches -- and its small circulation of 5,200 by calling itself the world's smallest newspaper. But no one had to guess why the Bulletin would cross the border to cover the event. Its sports editor is also Landrum's 28-year-old Republican precinct chairman, Joey Millwood.

"Overall, the meeting was very informative," Landrum Republican Precinct President Joey Millwood said. "I think those who attended got a good feel for what needs to be done at the state and federal level to deal with the problem of illegal immigration."

"Landrum Republicans host forum on illegal immigration"
Tryon Daily Bulletin, The (NC) - January 18, 2008