SC Senate Candidates to Debate Oct. 23

The members of the PCVotes organization, formed earlier this year, want to give residents a chance to hear and question candidates on the issues, as well as raising the voter turnout level for the 2012 elections. 

To that end, PCVotes has organized a series of debates, first between those seeking to be the followed by a debate between Easley School Board candidates. 

The final debate of the PCVotes debate series is coming up and will bring Sen. Larry Martin and his challenger Rex Rice together. 

Martin and Rice will debate 6:30pm Tuesday, October 23 at the Easley Campus of Tri-County Technical College. 

This debate, like previous PCVotes debates, will be live streamed. Check back with Easley Patch for the livestream link. 

The list of organizations interested in participating in the PCVotes debate series continues to grow. The current list includes:

Easley Patch
Tri County Technical College
Grandparents Rights Association of South Carolina
Grandparents Rights Association of the United States
Business/Education Alliance
Americans for Prosperity
Fraternal Order of Police (Pickens County)
The Parenting Place
Pickens County Voice
Easley Chamber of Commerce
Conservatives of the Upstate
Taxpayer's Association of Pickens County
Pickens County Tea Party
ABATE (Motorcycle Club)

Besides the PCVotes Senate debate, there are several other chances to hear from candidates before the Nov. 6 elections. 

The Pickens County Taxpayers Association will hold a candidate forum between Rep. B.R. Skelton and his challenger Ed Harris on Thursday, Oct. 18.

That forum begins at 7pm and will be held at the Town Hall in Six Mile.

“Members of the state legislature have much more power over your life and pocket book than any other government body in South Carolina,” PCTA President Dennis Reinert said. “In fact, the state legislature has more control over criminal law than the Federal government. We have seen indications that some in the state legislature want to start a South Carolina property tax supposedly to spend on education. The Pickens County Taxpayers Association encourages all citizens to get to know their candidates and what their plans are for the future of you and our state.”

On. Oct. 24, the Clemson Area League of Women Voters will host a candidate forum between Sen. Larry Martin and his challenger Rex Rice. That forum will be held at 7pm at the Capt. Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley. 

The League will also host a candidate forum for the three candidates campaigning for the Easley seat on the School District of Pickens County Board of Trustees. Judy Edwards, Valerie Ramsey and David Whittemore will debate each other at the forum, which is set for 7pm on Tuesday, October 30 at the Hampton Memorial Library.