In my campaign to become State Senator for District 30, I have learned to expect almost anything. Unfortunately, even I was surprised by the distribution of a letter and information by the Williams and Glover campaigns that is full of half-truths and misrepresentations designed to impugn my personal integrity. This information has been circulated by mail, by fax, and across the Internet.
I’m here today to denounce these negative personal attacks as the politics of the past, the politics of the good ol’ boys and the death rattle of the politics of desperation.
The behavior of the Williams and Glover Campaigns is despicable and fraudulent and is the primary reason why qualified candidates do not offer themselves for public office. Few of us can claim that the past does not contain both difficult decisions and heart felt disappointments. Our job is to learn from these lessons and to become a better person for having lived through them.
Eighteen years ago I invested in a homebuilding and real estate business that failed and resulted in a debt to creditors of 300,000 dollars. At my encouragement my creditors filed judgments against my company and in some cases, against me personally.
My opponents have reproduced these documents from over 15 years ago and circulated them to the voters of District 30. What they fail to disclose is the positive side of these hardships; that all of the judgments were satisfied. The payment of all judgments is also a matter of public record. Williams and Glover campaigns continue to imply that these judgments were not satisfied. This is a clear attempt to misrepresent the facts and mislead the voters in the final days of the campaign.
My attorney, Robert Lee is here today to verify that all judgments, from the past, have been satisfied.
I have never hidden from my past, rather, I have chosen to learn from my mistakes and disappointments. Today, 15 years later, I have fought back, worked hard and become a business and financial success. I have never failed to meet my obligations.
I urge you, the voters of District 30, to vote against Williams’ and Glover’s personal attacks.
VOTE FOR BOLD NEW, RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP.
Questions Asked and Answered from Press Conference.
1. You have brought your attorney here today? Why?
2. Your opponents continue to attack your campaign expenditures. Why would you borrow and spend $600,000.00 for a $10,000.00 a year job?
3. This attack portrays your campaign as being $640,000. in debt. Is it?
4. Someone put copies on my car that indicated that you failed to pay your child support. What is your stand on that?
5. Who is Mr. Segars, and why is he here today?
6. Exhibit A is a copy of the final results of the Democratic Primary on June 8th from the State website. Please comment on who won the Democratic Primary on June 8th?
7. The letter itself states that there has not been a single shred of evidence to support your Election Protest to the South Carolina Democratic Executive Committee. What is your stand in regard to this?
8. What is the truth about the nursing homes that were involved in the fraudulent absentee results?
9. The letter claims that your campaign has attacked Mr. Williams, calling him a failure, and labeling him as a “flip- flopper.” How is this different than what your opponents have done?
10. What letters are referred to when you are accused of insulting Marion County?
11. Has the sled investigation confirmed any violations of the law?
12. Mr. Norwood, exhibit B implies that you bought preachers. Would you care to comment on that?
