Make a Difference on January 16!

Last year we marched.  This year we vote.

And we can start to turn the tide in our state legislature on Tuesday, January 16.  Cindy Boatwright is running for South Carolina House District 99.

District 99: From Hanahan and Goose Creek to Mount Pleasant

You can find out if you are in District 99, and where you should go to vote here.

This is a great opportunity to start to move our legislature, and our state, forward.  2018 is going to be a year that Democrats can go from almost winning to moving from red to blue.

And why is this important?

2020 will be the next census year.  Republicans knew in 2010 that control of state legislatures was critical to controlling Congress, because that is typically who determines district lines after the census.  By turning a few key races red, republicans were able to create district maps to favor their own party.  This is done by packing a few districts with Democrats, and spreading out republicans across more districts.

This is how my own District 1 became District 6, so that my vote would be cast for the overwhelmingly elected Jim Clyburn, and I would not be able to vote in a potentially more contested District 1 (against Mark Sanford).  Here is how the 2012 gerrymandering in South Carolina is explained by Daily Kos:

  

Interactive version • District summary stats

Current Map:

Drawn by: Republican governor and legislature
Intended to Favor: Republicans
Delegation: 1 Democrat, 6 Republicans
2012 Vote: Obama 44, Romney 55
Summary: Republicans effectively maximized their seats

Net Change: Democrats gain one seat

There is no need for the VRA 6th District to contain parts of both Charleston and Columbia, as this was solely done to pack Democrats. By dropping Columbia from the 6th, the metro area fits neatly into the 2nd District. It is possible to draw the 6th without any part of Charleston in it, but this causes the 7th District to become quite ugly. Furthermore, the 1st would still lean Republican even with all of Charleston.

The impact of this map is that the 6th remains strongly Democratic, while the party gains the 2nd District. Republican Rep. Joe Wilson had a relatively poor performance even in 2010 in his gerrymandered district after the incident where he shouted "You lie!" at the president during a speech before Congress. It is highly unlikely that Wilson would have been able to win a seat Obama carried by 3.2 percent. All five of the other seats would remain strongly Republican.

(from Daily Kos, June 17, 2015) 

But that is only one reason to get out and vote on Tuesday.  The other important reason is the candidate and where she stands on the issues.

Cindy Boatwright has specific plans to correct the problems in our state.  From fighting corruption in state government to taking on the opioid epidemic, from improving education to making our streets, homes and schools safe from gun violence, from protecting our environment while creating incentives for small businesses, Cindy knows what will work and what will improve our lives in South Carolina.

By comparison, Nancy Mace, who unsuccessfully primaried Lindsey Graham in 2014, actually ran against President Obama.  In other words, she is a right-wing republican who will say whatever it takes to win.  On actual issues, she really doesn't have any new ideas.  Scratch the surface of her concerns about issues from environment to education and you will find Donald Trump and the republican party:  deregulation and low taxes, while cutting protections for workers and safety nets for seniors and the poor.

While her statements on the issues remain vague, one thing is certain:  Nancy Mace will work hard to get ahead in the republican party.

If you are thinking about not going out to vote, let me assure you, your vote counts.  In Virginia, a house seat was lost by one vote, resulting in continued control of the House by republicans.

Let us not be shaking out heads and saying to one another on Wednesday, "So close...."

There will be lots of people who you know who have no idea there is an important election on Tuesday.  There will be others who don't know the candidates or the issues.  This is your chance to make a difference here in South Carolina, and in your community.  Spread the word, and get out and vote.

Vote

CINDY BOATWRIGHT

SC House District 99

Tuesday, January 16

Last Year We Marched.  This Year We Vote!