South Carolina's Newest Endorsement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        CONTACT:  Ann Timberlake

Thursday, October 9, 2008                803-799-0716 or 803-446-6400                                                                                  scvoters@bellsouth.net

MANDY POWERS NORRELL EARNS GREEN SEAL OF APPROVAL

 (Columbia, SC) – Conservation Voters of South Carolina has endorsed Mandy Powers Norrell as the best choice for conservation minded voters in the District 16 Senate race.  Norrell is running opposite Mick Mulvaney for the seat representing most of Lancaster County and the eastern edge of York County.

“Mandy Powers Norrell offers a sensible approach to conservation that voters in these counties have come to expect from their elected leaders,” said Executive Director, Ann Timberlake. “Voters don’t care about party affiliation when it comes to issues like clean air and drinkable water.  Because retiring Senator Greg Gregory was such a leader on conservation, we are especially concerned about who will take his seat.”

“As Senator, Mandy would join Governor Mark Sanford in supporting funding for the Conservation Bank to keep our working farms and forests producing and to protect the natural resources that attract tourists, retirees and new families to our state.  Norrell has also made the passage of a balanced surface water permitting bill a priority, especially after legislators failed to act last year on this issue important to residents of the Catawba River watershed.” 

Candidates earn Conservation Voters’ support through an endorsement process that includes an examination of the candidates’ records, questionnaire responses and interviews.   “South Carolinians want elected officials who understand that communities need to be able to pass local measures like tree ordinances to preserve their unique character and plan for the future.  As a life long resident of the district, Norrell is committed to protecting both the special history and environment of District 16,” added Timberlake.

Since 2002, Conservation Voters has been turning traditional conservation values into state priorities.  The independent bipartisan organization holds elected leaders accountable and publishes a biennial Conservation Scorecard that has just been published and posted at www.conservationvotersofsc.org.  Conservation Voters has endorsed 30 state House and Senate candidates for the November elections.