South Carolina Conservationists Claim Bi-Partisan Election Victories

CONSERVATION VOTERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   CONTACT:  Ann Timberlake

Wed, November 8, 2006                                               803-799-0716/446-6400

                                                                        scvoters@bellsouth.net

CONSERVATIONISTS CLAIM BI-PARTISAN ELECTION VICTORIES

Conservation Voters of South Carolina (CVSC) heralded yesterday’s election outcomes as a big victory for South Carolina’s environment.  Republican Governor Mark Sanford won re-election and CVSC-backed conservation leaders won 15 of 19 targeted state legislative races, eight Republicans and seven Democrats.

“The fact that candidates ran aggressively this year on their conservation records is proof that South Carolina voters are increasingly concerned about protecting clean air, clean water and land for outdoor recreation and tourism,” observed Ann Timberlake, CVSC Executive Director. “Governor Mark Sanford(R) led the way by citing his endorsement by Conservation Voters prominently in his television ads.”

The election of six conservation candidates in important open seat races contributes toward the goal of building a bi-partisan conservation majority at the State House by 2010.   In a hotly contested race in Charleston County, Conservation Voters helped Leon Stravrinakis(D), chair of Charleston County Council, win a contest dominated by debate over the ability of local communities to adopt protective ordinances to plan for growth.

Eight House incumbents with good conservation records were re-elected, including Rep. Vida Miller(D), a recognized “Conservation Champion,” with a 100% voting record.  In Dorchester County, Patsy Knight(D) upset Representative George Bailey, who had switched parties in 2004.  In Beaufort, Laura Von Harten(D) will join three Republican CVSC-backed challengers who won in the primary to create a conservation majority on County Council. 

Jenks Mikell, chair of the CVSC Board, noted that “Conservation crosses party lines in South Carolina and that’s a good thing for voters.  But seventy House members had neither primary nor general opposition, and that needs to change.  We will be working to create more public dialogue about conservation and civic responsibilities in the future,” he concluded.

Conservation Voters holds elected officials accountable for their conservation records and evaluates candidates based on questionnaires, interviews, voting records and experience.  The CVSC PAC spent $70,000 on primary and general election races.  Quarterly statements are filed with the SC Ethics Commission. The 2006 Conservation Scorecard may be found at www.conservationvotersofsc.org.

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