Newspaper asks, "Who is Howard Rich?"

A month ago, after Howie Rich appeared in a YouTube interview with South Carolina's Republican Party chairman, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal published an article that asked in its headline, "Who is Howard Rich?" It gave a simple answer to its own question: "He's one of the most popular figures in South Carolina politics. He's also one of the most despised."

What makes him popular and despised at the same time, the Herald said, was "his willingness to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars - in his own name, through a network of LLCs, through like-minded associates and through groups such as South Carolinians for Responsible Government, Conservatives in Action and the S.C. Club for Growth - in an effort to create a Legislature in his image."

It has made Rich "a political superstar," the paper said.

The issues he pushes make him public enemy No. 1 for some members of both parties. Causing the most heartburn is his desire to create a private school system funded by taxpayer dollars. But Rich's fan club includes some of South Carolina's top-ranking Republicans. State Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson fawned over him in a soft-hitting interview that was broadcast over the Internet. Spartanburg County GOP Chairman Rick Beltram wants to worship at his feet, or at least his hip pocket.

Leading the "Get Rich, Quick" club are top Democrats and public education supporters. Spartanburg County Democratic Party Chairman Glenn Lindman calls him a "disaster waiting to happen." State Rep. Mike Anthony, D-Union, the public information officer for Union County Schools, says Rich is pouring money into candidates who are willing to "sell their souls" to get elected.

The local Republican Party chairman, Rick Beltram, told the paper that when South Carolina elected Mark Sanford its governor, it opened the door to Howie Rich, since both have "strong libertarian leanings."

Rich "sailed under the radar for a time," the paper said. He gave thousands of dollars in contributions to candidates and committees through several companies that he owns in New York. His activity was discovered when someone found the same address attached to many different entities popping up on campaign disclosure forms. He used this system in 2006 to funnel more than $51,000 to the pro-voucher Republican candidate for superintendent of education. She was narrowly defeated.

This spring, the paper said, "he pumped at least $500,000 into primary races across the state - including six in Spartanburg County." In some cases, Rich gave the money directly to candidates, but in other cases he contributed to a group called South Carolinians for Responsible Government and the South Carolina Club for Growth. Those groups then paid for television ads and mail flyers.

No one knows how much money Howie Rich contributed to those front groups because "SCRG is not required to report where its funding comes from or where it spends its money because it is an 'advocacy group'."

Bob Walker, the veteran lawmaker from Landrum who had become chairman of the House Education Committee, was one of Howie Rich's targets.

While [Lee] Bright got the most money locally, Joey Millwood scored the biggest victory. Millwood unseated Rep. Bob Walker, the chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee. Millwood collected at least $50,000 from Rich and his associates, and also benefited from "advocacy" mailings by SCRG and Conservatives in Action.

Who is Howard Rich?

The local Democratic Party chairman predicted a quid pro quo relationship behind Howie Rich's contributions. "If Rich spent that much money to buy a seat, he says, he's going to expect something in return," he paper said.

"If you're that beholden to that man for that amount of money, you're representing his interests," Lindman said. "And his agenda is in conflict with what's in the best interest of Spartanburg County and the state."

It looks like Lindman is right. Both Bright and Millwood, the two candidates who won with Rich's funding, support Rich's school voucher plan.

Bright said he would support a voucher plan for students in failing schools. Millwood, like Rich, said he favors a tax credit. When asked how low-income students would benefit from a tax credit plan, Millwood said, "I'll have to get back to you." He said there were "a lot of student grant organizations out there," but when asked where they were he said he didn't know and that he'd never looked into it.

The Herald found another troubling pattern in Howie Rich's political activism:

Most of Rich's money showed up in the "dark period" between the date candidates had to file pre-election disclosures and the time voters went to the polls. That prevented voters from knowing who was receiving his funding, and how much they were getting. Rich said he wasn't trying to hide anything.

"I made donations based on when the support would have the most impact," Rich said. "No other reason."

The paper said that school vouchers are only one of Howie Rich's favorite issues. He has also poured money into state ballot initiatives for "spending limits, based on a formula of inflation plus population growth, and private property rights - particularly regulatory takings legislation."

But the Herald didn't name which states have been Rich's targets for political activity. It did say that Rich has accused opponents of his ideas and his contributions deceitful.

While Rich claims deceit on the part of opponents, it's his initiatives that have run into trouble with the law. In 2006 in Montana, for example, a district judge threw out ballot measures to cap state spending, enact a takings law and to make it easier to recall judges because of fraud by out-of-state, paid signature-gatherers, the newspaper The Missoulian reported. The state supreme court upheld the ruling.

The paper also added this warning to the voters of South Carolina who hope this sort of politics is temporary:

In his interview with Dawson, Rich said that he and his groups "weren't going anywhere."

Petitioner tries to oppose Howie Rich's candidate

For a short time, it appeared that Howie Rich's candidate in the South Carolina House race might have an independent opponent, and Howie Rich was the reason.

Former Landrum Mayor Doug Brannon has about 24 hours to finish collecting enough signatures to be on the November ballot as a candidate for the state House of Representatives. "The residents of House District 38 need a strong, vocal representative that isn't pulled by out-of-state money or some other power," Brannon said.

According to his pre-election campaign disclosure form, Millwood received about three-quarters of the money he had raised so far - $4,150 - from New York donors affiliated with Libertarian Howard Rich. Rich and his associates have supported groups and individuals in South Carolina promoting school choice, specifically vouchers, though Millwood said he would prefer tax credits for parents who send their children to private school over a voucher system.

Millwood had not filed his second-quarter disclosure statement as of Sunday. But he said he would continue working hard toward November as he did the months leading up to the June primary.
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Brannon said he would not accept contributions from out-of-state special interests.

Brannon pushing petition deadline to join House District 38 race
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - July 14, 2008

Millwood's response to the potential challenge from Brannon was expected: "I'm the Republican nominee," he said.

Another hurdle Brannon faces is the funding machine built by New York Libertarian Howard Rich. As of May 23 - the deadline for candidates to file their pre-election campaign disclosure forms with the state - Millwood had raised only $3,650 this quarter, and $3,000 of that was from associates of Rich.

Since then, Millwood received an additional $47,427.18 in campaign donations. Of that, $45,600, or more than 96 percent, came from individuals and entities affiliated with Rich and the S.C. Club for Growth - and about half of that came May 24, the beginning of the window when candidates would not have to disclose donors until after the election.
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None of that financial information includes the thousands of dollars pumped into the House District 38 primary by South Carolinians for Responsible Government, or SCRG, and Conservatives in Action, in the form of campaign literature. The money trail for those groups also leads back to Rich, and the groups have successfully navigated loopholes in state law by calling campaign mailers "education pieces."
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Whether tax dollars should be used to support private school education will be a key issue in this race. It's an issue championed by Rich and his groups, and ousting Walker was seen as a victory for those who support using tax dollars to help cover costs for parents who send their children to private schools.

Brannon turns in petitions - House District 38: If signatures check out, he'll appear on Nov. 4 ballot
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - July 16, 2008

But Brannon's petition effort fell short, leaving Howie Rich's candidate to run against an unknown Democrat in the general election.

Agenda-driven groups leave "disaster area"

The influence of out-of-state interests on the South Carolina primary was felt instantly in Spartanburg County, where veteran lawmaker Bob Walker was one of a few senior lawmakers turned out of office thanks to mail and phone campaigns paid for by out-of-staters. One lawmakers called the Spartanburg County legislative delegation, once one of the most experienced and powerful delegations in the state, a "disaster area."

State Rep. Harold Mitchell stood in the middle of election central Tuesday night, staring at the scoreboard and surveying the damage to the Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation.

Bob Walker, chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee: Gone, voted out in favor of 28-year-old Joey Millwood, a journalist with no political experience. Ralph Davenport, holder of a seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee: Gone, voted out over a widely criticized school consolidation plan that most likely never would have seen the light of day.

Jim Ritchie, Senate majority whip: Scratching and clawing just to make a runoff against Shane Martin for the District 13 seat. Scott Talley and his eight years of experience in the House: Headed for a runoff against Lee Bright for the Senate District 12 seat. Throw in the retirement of House Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith, and it didn't take Mitchell long to declare the delegation a disaster area.
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"As I looked at it, from a leverage standpoint, it didn't take long to figure out where we were," said Mitchell, a Democrat who, with three years' experience, is now the third-ranking member of the House delegation behind Lanny Littlejohn (a Republican with 20 years of service) and Mike Anthony (a Democrat with six years in office who represents Union County and a piece of Spartanburg County).
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"Like the old saying goes, be careful what you ask for because you just might get it," Smith said. "It will take decades for Spartanburg County to recover from this."

Smith, who retired after 16 years in the House, entered the Legislature in 1992 as a member of the minority party. When the Republicans took over two years later, some very fresh faces found themselves in key positions. This crop of newcomers won't have that luxury, Smith said. There are Republicans in front of them who have waited years for a spot on Ways and Means or a committee chairmanship.
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Mitchell said in some cases there was another ingredient at work. He said the money pumped in by the "Gangs of New York" - a movie title he said aptly describes South Carolinians for Responsible Government, Conservatives in Action and the S.C. Club for Growth - took a toll in some races, including Walker's. Joey Millwood, a candidate who supports using taxpayer money for private schools, was bankrolled by such groups tied to voucher maven and New York millionaire Howard Rich.

"They tried to influence our judicial races last year, but they didn't succeed," Mitchell said... "But they certainly affected the General Assembly races this year, and now they've gotten several steps closer to their plan for school vouchers."

Incumbents out, county loses clout - Legislative delegation: Area's influence declines as veterans leave arena
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - June 15, 2008

Editors of the local newspaper reached the same conclusion.

When the next legislative session starts in January, Spartanburg County will have much less influence in the General Assembly. Part of this loss is because Smith, a leader in the House, decided not to run for re-election. The county also lost the chairmanship of the House Education and Public Works Committee when Joey Millwood defeated Rep. Bob Walker. And Spartanburg lost a seat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee when Steve Parker defeated Rep. Ralph Davenport.

... If Shane Martin defeats Sen. Jim Ritchie in next week's runoff, the county would take a similar hit in its power in the Senate. Two of the county's three seats would be held by freshmen.

... Elections should be open. The voters should be able to choose from any candidates who choose to run. Incumbents should have to run on their record of accomplishments. They should not feel entitled to hold their seats as long as they want.

But they also shouldn't have to fight outside groups channeling large amounts of money into their races from sources unknown. That was a factor in some of these races. Well-financed groups - pursuing their own agenda and unwilling to reveal where their money comes from - pushed several candidates, including Millwood.

Candidates should be able to know who they're fighting, and voters should be able to know who is financing the political messages they get in their mailboxes.

Rep. Harold Mitchell is correct when he says the delegation will have to work together to overcome its loss of influence. It should start by insisting that the General Assembly pass a law that would force independent groups that try to influence elections to disclose their finances.

Loss of power - Primary elections cost Spartanburg its measure of clout in Columbia
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - June 17, 2008

Meanwhile, the automatic recount in Bob's race against Joey Millwood gave the same result.

A recount of votes for the State House District 38 on Monday concluded Joey Millwood has unseated eight-term state Rep. Bob Walker by 19 votes in what many considered to be the most stunning upset in last week's GOP primary. Millwood, a 28-year-old journalist, scored 1,539 votes to Walker's 1,520, according to the official count.

Walker has until Monday to lodge a protest with the state GOP Executive Committee. He said he still was undecided on whether to pursue an appeal.

"I will not make any judgment," Walker said. "I think my experience, knowledge and service will be missed. I have no regrets as far as what I tried to accomplish over the years."

Recount confirms Millwood's victory over Walker
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - June 17, 2008

And then, he decided not to appeal at all.

State Rep. Bob Walker said Wednesday he will not file a protest in the House District 38 Republican primary. Newcomer Joey Millwood scored a 19-vote victory over Walker in the June 10 primary. A mandatory recount on Monday affirmed the victory. Walker, the chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee, was seeking a ninth term. He said he examined questions about some absentee and provisional ballots, but in the end he "just didn't see the numbers" to proceed.

Walker said he would continue to serve the district until his term expires in December. After that, he said, his future is "in the hands of the good Lord."

Millwood, sports editor of the Tryon Daily Bulletin, faces Democrat Mark Chambers in the general election in November.

Walker won't protest vote ousting him after 8 terms
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - June 19, 2008

Out-of-state money defeats Bob Walker

Whether or not there was a "hit list," voters in the South Carolina primary responded to the negative advertising sponsored by out-of-state interests. Political newcomer Joey Millwood, the 28-year-old sportswriter for a newspaper on the North Carolina side of the Carolina border, unseated Bob Walker.

Joey Millwood unseated eight-term state Rep. Bob Walker by 19 votes Tuesday in what many considered a stunning upset in the state House District 38 GOP primary. Millwood, a 28-year-old journalist, garnered 1,539 votes to Walker's 1,520 in the unofficial count. His biggest victory came in the Bowen precinct, where he held a 235 to 176 edge.
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Walker, 65, the chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee, said late Tuesday that he was unwilling to comment specifically on the outcome until the numbers were official.

However, "I've said all along, regardless of what happens in the end, this seat belongs to the people and I respect what the people say," he said. "I have enjoyed serving as a legislator, whether it comes out to my benefit or not. I have tried to serve the people with honesty and integrity. Never have I tried to get elected or re-elected by false and inaccurate statements, and I will live by my record.
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Millwood's campaign was predicated on conservative principles, and he said the results Tuesday showed the people responded.
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Millwood's top priority is to cut state spending, and he also supports tax credits to parents who choose to send their children to private schools.

Millwood scores 19-vote primary upset over Walker
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - June 11, 2008

Millwood's own newspaper covered the news and seemed to be as surprised as everyone else.

Political newcomer Joey Millwood edged incumbent Bob Walker by 19 votes in the Republican primary for the House seat, capturing 50.31 percent of the vote. Millwood received 1,539 votes, while Walker received 1,520.
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Walker, 65, has served eight terms in the S.C. House after first getting elected in 1993. He most recently has served in a significant leadership position as chairman of the Education and Public Works Committee.

Millwood edges incumbent Walker in S.C. House race
Tryon Daily Bulletin, The (NC) - June 11, 2008

Because of the margin of victory, a recount would be automatic but the bigger question was whether or not Bob would contest the results.

The county board of elections will meet at 11 a.m. today to certify the results of Tuesday's voting. The board will then conduct a recount in the House District 38 race, where newcomer Joey Millwood stunned eight-term incumbent Bob Walker by 19 votes. The recount is mandated by law because Millwood did not win by a minimum of 1 percent of the vote.

Pending the outcome of the recount, either side would have until 1 p.m. Monday to file an appeal. Walker said he is undecided as to whether that's an avenue he'll explore. "We'll look at what is presented to us tomorrow and make our decision," he said.

Runoff candidates won't get a breather - June 24 vote: Republicans to decide 2 nominees for state Senate, 1 council seat
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - June 12, 2008

Whether or not the governor initiated a "hit list" with out-of-state financing, he "declared victory."

The S.C. Club for Growth declared victory Tuesday night, and Sanford followed Wednesday.
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In total, candidates Sanford publicly supported went 2-for-4 against incumbents. Sanford said eight incumbent losses -- some he had nothing to do with -- were a sign voters wanted change.

As for the third-party groups, they won some and lost some.

Most notably is Rep. Bob Walker's loss in Spartanburg County to newcomer Joey Millwood.
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But South Carolinians for Responsible Growth and the S.C. Club for Growth failed to defeat a number of targeted Upstate lawmakers, including Sandifer, B.R. Skelton and Keith Kelly. Those groups also failed to capture a number of open seats.

In short, Sanford might pick up one or two new House members and three or four Senate votes. A handful of runoffs and general election races could change that slightly in either direction.

But S.C. Club for Growth executive director Matt Moore said the goal was to elect a veto-backing bloc, and Tuesday's election results might do little to shift the Legislature in that direction during Sanford's final two years.

Sanford wins some, loses others in election
State, The (Columbia, SC) - June 12, 2008

Out-of-state funds pursue change

As the June 9 primary approached in South Carolina, "outside groups" were seen to "ratchet up the heat" with mail and advertisements. What seemed to tie many of them together was a steady stream of funding coming from outside the state, a "hit list" that may or may not have been adopted or promoted by the governor's office, and front groups that pay for the political ads but aren't obligated to reveal their donors.

Office-seekers are having their past and present business practices criticized. Political newcomers are being attacked as puppets of special interest groups. And many incumbents (and their consultants) say they're fighting hidden agendas to radically alter the education system in South Carolina and a concentrated effort to oust them, an effort tied to the Governor's Office.
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South Carolinians for Responsible Government, or SCRG, has issued several cookie-cutter mailers attacking incumbent Reps. Keith Kelly and Bob Walker. Kelly faces engineer Roger Nutt in House District 35. Walker faces journalist Joey Millwood in House District 38. SCRG, a group partially funded by New York millionaire Howard Rich, is tied to several like-minded groups, like the S.C. Club for Growth and Conservatives in Action.

"The usual suspects seem to be behind every one of these attacks," consultant Terry Sullivan said. "Josh Gross is infamous for untrue and misleading attacks. Club for Growth has repeatedly done it. It's not about the issues for a lot of these groups, it's about personalities and petty politics."
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His firm was hired by the new group "South Carolinians for Truth," headed by outgoing Rep. Bill Cotty, R-Columbia, to fight back - a fight that has included automated calls attacking Kelly's challenger, Roger Nutt, and Forrester's opponent, Ken Roach. Critics, including those aligned with SCRG, say the calls aren't legal.
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"Whenever you hear the pig squeal, you know you're getting its attention," Cotty said. "We have an immigration problem in South Carolina that the bill we passed didn't handle: The immigration of out-of-state dollars by rich special interests who are trying to buy our state election by election, issue by issue, without revealing who they really are, where they're really from and what they're really about."
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Nutt also says it's misleading for critics to categorize him as a puppet of "out-of-state interests" when a relatively small amount of his direct campaign contributions come from people affiliated with Rich, while not categorizing his opponent, Kelly, as a puppet for receiving a relatively large percentage of contributions from political action committees and attorneys.

Campaign turns nasty - Primary is Tuesday: Outside groups ratchet up the heat
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - June 5, 2008

And was there a "hit list," or wasn't there? A newspaper reported rumors of one, and finally published what was reported to be one, but Governor Mark Sanford's office denied its involvement in one.

Kelly, Walker, Cotty and others were on a long-rumored hit list that Gov. Mark Sanford was said to be targeting this election cycle. Its existence was regarded as an urban legend, though such a list eventually surfaced in a Columbia newspaper.

"As much as reporters like to advance that theory, we're in the position of not being able to prove a negative," Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said. "The governor said from the very beginning that he was not targeting anyone, but as he saw people who decided to run on their own to run against people who haven't always been the most supportive of his agenda that he may get involved in a few races."

Sanford will publicly lend his support to Nutt in an advertisement that debuts today on GoUpstate.com.

When Kelly was told about this, he said, "The governor's upset with me because I do not favor school consolidation for Spartanburg County. He wants one school district per county. And, he favors school choices - vouchers and credits. But the governor and I agree on 95 percent of all issues. I have voted to sustain a number of vetoes this week. We agree on less taxes. We agree on less spending. I voted for caps on spending. We disagree on schools. Spartanburg County has excellent schools. I will not vote for vouchers or credits that take money out of public education."

School choice heats up House campaign

The questions of school choice, tax credits for private school tuition, and vouchers made front-page news in the June 2 edition of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal in South Carolina, where veteran lawmaker Bob Walker was being challenged by Joey Millwood. Bob became chairman of the House Education Committee a few years ago, so he brought some particular expertise to the newspaper's education questions.

Millwood is in favor of tax credits for parents who choose to send their children to private schools, while Walker is opposed to that as well as vouchers.
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Walker balked at Millwood's contention that South Carolina ranks last in the country overall in education.

"We're not 50th ranked in the United States. That is totally false," Walker said. "There are those that are condemning our public education that want people to think that."

And the Herald recognized the work that Bob has done on education issues.

Walker said he is in favor of choice within the public school system, citing the bill he introduced allowing students to cross district lines without paying extra fees, but he is not in favor of giving taxpayer money to enable students to attend private schools. Walker added that, now that South Carolina homeowners no longer pay a property tax toward the public schools, no extra funds should be allotted for private-school costs.

"They now have that money in their pocket to pay for the tuition or fees for private schools," Walker said. "So those that are sending their kids to private schools benefited in that tax cut that we made for property tax on the homeowners."

So it was especially odd that Millwood questioned Bob's representation of his constituents on this issue, and even more odd because of the record of Spartanburg County's schools.

Millwood, meanwhile, strongly believes in supporting parental choice despite the fact Spartanburg County schools rank among the best in the state.
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On a personal level, Millwood attended Z.L. Madden Elementary School, which he pointed out is now closed, and Whitlock Junior High School. "I would have appreciated if my parents had a choice," Millwood said.
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Walker's major criticism of the voucher and tax-credit system is that they are exclusive, and that supporters of the system lack accountability for every child.

"They want the money but they don't want to be held accountable," Walker said. "They want to pick and choose who they can use (the money for), and that's the real issue behind it. I think that's the key point in this whole thing, is whether those that want those public funds agree to the accountability and agree to taking any child, not charging extra funds, and I haven't seen any indication from those who are promoting vouchers and tax credits that they're willing to do those things."

"Candidates at odds on education issues," Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - June 2, 2008

Fliers may have come from Howard Rich

In early May, back in South Carolina, fliers began to appear in mailboxes of voters in the Upstate, the northwest corner of the state. The fliers promoted a slate of candidates it called "tax-cutting conservatives," but the Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported that the issues listed on the fliers "are a veil to cover the group's real agenda, school choice." One of the candidates being promoted by the fliers was Joey Millwood, the young man running against veteran lawmaker Bob Walker.

South Carolinians for Responsible Government has sent mailings in support of Republican candidates Roger Nutt, an engineer facing incumbent Rep. Keith Kelly, and Joey Millwood , a journalist facing incumbent Rep. Bob Walker in June. The group has also sent out a flier supporting Ken Roach, who is running against fellow Republican and retired gas company executive Mike Forrester to challenge incumbent Democrat Ronnie Hart in November.

The candidates supported by South Carolinians for Responsible Government say that group issued its support without their knowledge, but they welcome it. The Responsible Government group's leaders say their organization is being pigeonholed as a single-issue advocate. S.C. law does not require so-called political awareness groups to disclose their donors, so it is unclear who is funding these mailings.

One of the fliers was illustrated with a "cartoon pig" and the other one showed a "a chubby, cigar-smoking man in a suit and tie." Neither Roger Nutt nor Joey Millwood claimed credit for the fliers.

Nutt and Millwood said the first time they saw the fliers was after they were mailed out. Both men have retained the services of consultant Chad Connelly, a board member of South Carolinians for Responsible Government.

But someone else concluded that the fliers were part of a strategy, the Herald said.

Political consultant Wesley Donahue called the fliers a diversion from South Carolinians for Responsible Government's true agenda - putting legislators in Columbia who support school choice. Donahue's client list includes Kelly, Forrester, and state Rep. Scott Talley, who is seeking a Senate seat against Lee Bright and L.B. Watson.

"Look at those mail pieces, and you will know which legislators stand with South Carolina public schools," Donahue said. "Bob Walker, Keith Kelly, Mike Forrester - these are people that stand with Spartanburg County public schools. It's these Ken Roaches and Roger Nutts of the world that have sold their soul to the voucher crowd."

"These guys are being back-funded, and recruited by these out-of-state millionaires who want to experiment on our public schools," Donahue said. "They should have to disclose. Everybody else does. That's what's so dirty about this whole thing."
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Millwood has said that he would not support vouchers but would consider tax credits for parents who opt to send their children to a nonpublic school.
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"School choice itself is a tenet of the Republican Party. So, the concept that parents are given a choice as to how their children are educated is something I would stand behind. The voucher idea, I'm not for. But I would entertain looking at the tax credits," Nutt said.

And the Herald itself identified who might be funding the group in South Carolina, and its fliers.

South Carolinians for Responsible Government has been tied to New York millionaire Howard Rich, who has supported a number of Republican candidates in this state through a variety of organizations and like-minded associates.

In 2006, South Carolinians for Responsible Government sued the State Ethics Commission after its director said it was trying to influence an election and had to disclose financial information. The state Attorney General's Office refused to provide the ethics commission with attorneys, and the case was eventually dismissed.

A bill this year that would have required political awareness organizations to disclose their financial information went nowhere. Neil Mellen, spokesman for South Carolinians for Responsible Government, called forcing a private, membership-supported group to disclose its financial information "ridiculous."

"Group mails fliers on candidates," Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - May 15, 2008

Newspaper explains challenger's agenda

By the filing deadline at noon on March 30, Joey Millwood had confirmed his intentions to run for the State House against his incumbent representative, Bob Walker. (Keith Kelly of Woodruff had a challenger too, named Roger Nutt.) Another candidate filed to run for House District 38, one who "considered himself a Republican since 1983" and who ran as a Republican, unsuccessfully, for a county seat in 2006. This year, he told the Herald-Journal, the county's Republican Party chairman "wouldn't let him" run against Bob as a Republican. So he filed to run as a Democrat.

Chambers, a Union native who has lived in Spartanburg County since the early 1970s, initially tried to run for Walker's seat as a Republican, but said Spartanburg County GOP boss Rick Beltram wouldn't let him.

"I called Beltram, and he said, 'That seat is not open. That seat is already taken by Bob Walker. Bob is working hard to keep that seat, and we don't need nobody to run against him. That seat is not open. ... You can't run for Bob Walker's seat.' So, I registered under the Democratic Party. They said they'd let me run for that seat," Chambers said.

Beltram called Chamber's story "a total lie."

But even Chambers holds no animosity toward Bob, he told the paper.

"I know Bob Walker - he is a good guy. He does got a lot of ideas. And I support what he has done, but I can do a better job, I believe," Chambers said. "I just need to get the people's trust to get me in there."

And on one controversial issue, Chambers took a firm stand.

When asked, Chambers said he would support tax credits for school choice. Controversial issues, from school district consolidation to cigarette taxes, should be put on the ballot and decided by referendum, he said.

"Longtime Republican running as Democrat - Mark Chambers: To go up against Walker"
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - April 10, 2008

Bob responded to the primary challenge by scheduling a series of town hall meetings across his district, first in the small, old mill town of Chesnee to the east, then back in Landrum in early May.

On April 28, the Herald-Journal ran its first article identifying Joey Millwood for its readership. It called Millwood's challenge to Bob "a campaign battle of David-and-Goliath-like proportions," the political novice with a $500 budget challenging the veteran lawmaker with a $70,000 war chest. Millwood, it wrote, was knocking on doors and talking to voters on their front porches.

Millwood grew up in Whitney. He and his wife have lived in Landrum for about five years. He has one daughter, who is about 12 weeks old. He graduated from the University of South Carolina Upstate, where he wrote conservative columns for the school newspaper.

Though a first-time candidate, Millwood's campaign placard contains several messages that have been part of the South Carolina political dialogue for years.

It asserts the South Carolina state government has grown by 41 percent over the past three years, an almost verbatim reference to the way Gov. Mark Sanford introduced his version of the state budget this year. It also argues that a spending cap, tied to population growth and inflation, could eliminate the state income tax in the next 15 years - an issue Sanford campaigned on when he first won the race for governor in 2002.

While not attacking Bob directly, Millwood told the Herald-Journal he was "against big government" and said, "All I'll say is that I consider myself a strict conservative, who believes in less government, true tax reform and appointing conservative judges to the state bench."

That's a mantra that many conservative organizations could get behind - organizations such as the S.C. Club for Growth. The club took issue with several Spartanburg lawmakers last year when they named Judge Don Beatty to the S.C. Supreme Court. The club and other organizations classified Beatty as a liberal.

In a recent interview, the reporter in Millwood was clear, as he asked nearly as many questions as he answered. Often, he steered answers back to spending. On immigration reform, for instance, he would not discuss the pending legislation in Columbia, saying only that "any bill that helps with illegal immigration is a step in the right direction"

On school choice, Millwood said he would not support vouchers for parents who send their children to private school, but he would consider tax credits. It's competition, the free market at work, which would help create better schools, he said.

Millwood told the paper that he didn't "feel like I grew up in the best of schools, and I would have appreciated an option."

When the paper asked Bob about vouchers and tax credits, he opposed them. It seemed to be the brightest division between the two candidates.

Walker, 65, said he does not favor vouchers, and he hasn't supported any of the tax-credit proposals he's seen so far.

"I'm for choice as for what the parents feel like they need to do best," Walker said. "But I'm not for taking the taxpayers' money that's allocated to go to the public school system and give it to someone else."

Walker also highlighted work he's done to support private schools, charter schools, home-schooling and virtual schools.

"Walker's war chest not fazing Millwood - Challenger: Promises to rein in state spending"
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - April 28, 2008

Two weeks later, both men appeared at a Republican candidates forum at Ron's Hog Pen BBQ. Even the Herald-Journal reporter who covered the meeting had difficulty finding much conflict between the various candidates for their offices on issues.

For some of the topics, many of the answers were predictable - no one opposed putting a cap on state spending, for instance, and no one outright opposed requiring private employers to use a federal database to verify that their employees are legal residents of the United States - though some talked around it.

Because of so many similar positions, the night was best served by being able to judge which candidates could think on their feet, who seemed the most passionate about different issues, who was the most informed about the issues affecting this state, and who could best handle themselves in front of a crowd. That's not to say there were no differences - just that, in some cases, those differences were just as much about poise as they were about positions.

House incumbent Bob Walker played up a stipulation he added to the immigration reform bill in Columbia that would prevent children here illegally from getting state scholarships.

Walker's challenger, Joey Millwood , got a burst of cheers when, after agreeing with Walker that the state government needs to be less involved in higher education, he suggested that part of the problem with rising tuition costs was overpaid "liberal professors."

For incumbents, the night was a chance to highlight their records. For challengers, it was a chance to try to prove their opponents disingenuous or, a favorite of the night, in the pocket of special interest groups.

"Light barbs on cue at GOP debate"
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - May 13, 2008

Mystery sponsors use push-polling in Woodruff

At the opposite end of Spartanburg County from Landrum is the community of Woodruff, whose high school was named one of the best in the nation this year by U.S. News and World Report. Woodruff has been represented in the South Carolina House for almost two years by Keith Kelly, an attorney, a past president of the Woodruff Rotary Club and past chairman of the board of trustees at Woodruff's Emma Gray Memorial United Methodist Church. His fellow Army Reservists call him Captain Kelly, but Woodruff's voters call him Keith.

Keith is married to Cindy Kelly, who suffered a brief health scare sixteen months ago when it was thought she might have breast cancer. Thankfully, a biopsy on April 26 turned out fine. Keith was by her side for the procedure that day, which happened to be a legislative workday. In fact, it was the only day of Keith's first term as a state representative that he has missed work, according to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.

But that single missed day of work became an issue in March of this year, when someone (or some organization) sponsored a "push-poll" that delivered messages by telephone to voters in Keith's district. The message was that Keith "was not attending sessions and was not voting."

No one has claimed responsibility for the calls targeting Kelly, but he has a short list of suspects: S.C. Club for Growth, South Carolinians for Responsible Government, ReformSC and Conservatives in Action - four groups that want to take the state on a hard right turn. They are eating their own in an effort to create a Legislature in their image, Kelly said.

The calls are just one example of the forces at work across the state trying to affect legislative races in Spartanburg County. Most voters will never meet the would-be puppet masters, but they'll likely get a phone call or two because of them, or a piece of mail. The collective agenda of the above-named advocacy groups includes school choice - specifically vouchers - strengthening the powers of the governor, shrinking government and capping state spending.

Sound familiar? It is a mantra Gov. Mark Sanford has repeated for years.

One of the groups Keith suspected of sponsoring the push-poll told the Herald-Journal that it was looking for candidates to run against incumbents, even Republicans, in their primaries. S.C. Club for Growth's executive director Matt Moore named "restructuring and good-government kinds of issues" as their agenda. He said that South Carolina's conservative two-term governor, Mark Sanford, had outlined such an agenda but complained that legislators "aren't listening to their voters and are destroying the reforms that he's pushing."

Chad Walldorf, the organization's chairman, is a longtime Sanford ally.

The Herald-Journal reported on March 23 that Keith wasn't the only target of push-polls this year, though he was the subject of at least two of them. By that date, Rep. Bob Walker of Landrum, and Senators Scott Talley and Jim Ritchie had been targeted by one each. "No one is taking credit for them, but fingers are pointing in all directions," the Herald wrote.

The county's Republican Party chairman said that all four of the groups Keith named were "recruiting to fill holes, and, if they're not comfortable with an incumbent, looking for an alternate who fits their version of the Republican mold. That's exactly what's happening, whether they want to tell you that or not."

And, the Herald-Journal wrote, "When it comes to who is funding these groups, the waters are murky - and the groups want to keep it that way."

Keith agreed. He told the paper, "They're trying to get a bloc of legislators that they control, period," Kelly said. "Then it won't matter what the issue is, it won't matter whether it's good for the district or the state. It will truly be money talks at that point. They don't care one flip about this state."

In addition to the four groups that Keith named, though, the Herald-Journal found four more who said they were "interviewing" potential candidates to challenge incumbents: "the Palmetto Family Council, the state Chamber of Commerce, the state Realtors Association and the S.C. Business & Industry Political Education Committee."

Among those potential candidates was one who didn't want to confirm his intentions to the Herald-Journal.

Thomas DeLoach, president of the Business & Industry Political Education Committee, said Joey Millwood , sports editor of the Tryon (N.C.) Daily Bulletin, was among the potential candidates he met with. Millwood, who might be considering a run against Walker, declined to comment.

"Groups seek to shape Legislature - Targeting politicians: Some say tactics used are 'inherently unfair'"
Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC) - March 23, 2008

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