Pickens County GOP Leader Calls On Governor To End Primaries On Tuesday

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A message from Pickens County GOP leader, Phillip Bowers:

On May 16th, Governor Nikki Haley spoke to the Executive Committee of the South Carolina Republican Party. She asked for our help is reinstating all candidates to the ballot. We obliged Governor Haley and have done everything within our powers to accomplish that, but our efforts have failed. 

I believe the actions over the last several weeks that removed hundreds of candidates from primary ballots are unconstitutional as outlined in Article I, Section 5, of the South Carolina Constitution which states "All elections shall be free and open, and every inhabitant of this State possessing the qualifications provided for in this Constitution shall have an equal right to elect officers and be elected to fill public office". 

I believe it is time to call upon Governor Haley to exercise her Constitutional authority as outlined in Article IV Section 15 of the South Carolina Constitution which states, "The Governor shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed". 

Furthermore, I believe it is time for Governor Haley to exercise her Constitutional authority as outlined in Article IV Section 19 of the South Carolina Constitution which states "The Governor may on extraordinary occasions convene the General Assembly in extra session." 

I hope you will join me in calling upon Governor Haley to convene the General Assembly and pass whatever legislation is necessary to stop the Tuesday primary, reopen candidate filing, and set a new date for the primary so that every citizen may exercise his or her right as outlined in the South Carolina Constitution. 

Thanks,

Phillip Bowers

Chairman

Pickens County Republican Party