Tim Hicks - Managing Editor

Rob Miller speaks at the Barnwell Democratic fish fry. Miller is running against U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson.

Tim Hicks - Managing Editor

Rob Miller, center, talks with Ronnie Jackson, left, and S.C. Rep. Lonnie Hosey, right.

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Leaders, real leadership and hard work.

These were words and needs that were often repeated during a fish fry fund-raiser held by the Barnwell County Democratic Party July 16 at the El BAB Shrine Club in Barnwell.

The event gave local and state Democratic officials, incumbents and candidates an opportunity to stump for themselves or other Democrats.

"I'm so proud to be from Barnwell County and represent South Carolina on the national level," said Matthew Richardson.

Richardson is a member of the Democratic National Committee representing South Carolina. He is an attorney in Columbia.

"There's a lot of work to be done in Barnwell County," he said. "We need new leaders."

Richardson urged the group for more citizen support and election of Democratic candidates.

"This is a street fight - on Main Street and your street," he said.

"I'm fired up. This is our time to do things in the county, the state and the nation," said S.C. Rep. Lonnie Hosey, who is also the chairman of the Barnwell County Democratic Party.

"Let's enjoy our prospective candidates who will be our elected officials in 2010," he said.

The call for leadership was echoed by others.

"When you think about this state and what it needs, it's one word - leadership," said S.C. Rep. James Smith, from District 72.

Smith came to stump for S.C. Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden. Sheheen is running for governor.

One of the featured speakers during the event was Rob Miller, who is running for U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson's seat in the Second Congressional District for 2010.

The Second Congressional District runs from Columbia southwest to Hilton Head Island on the coast. The district includes all of Allendale, Barnwell, Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper and Lexington counties and parts of Aiken, Calhoun, Orangeburg and Richland counties.
Miller likewise called for leadership in his speech.

"We have no meaningful voice in Washington," he said. "His (Wilson's) leadership has led up to the back of the pack. And as you know, when you are in the back of the pack, the view doesn't change."

State infrastructure, economic development and public education are several key planks in Miller's platform.

"We haven't changed, but Washington has changed," he said. "While our neighboring states brainstorm for future infrastructure, South Carolina struggles to patch failing roads."

"The Second (Congressional) District has been left alone for so long," Miller said, referring to the district's need for improved roads, more railroads and major highways.

Miller said he would like to see more funding for the state's technical school system to improve the work skills and marketability of the American workforce in the state.

"No South Carolinian should be more than 25 miles from a technical school," he said.

Miller said it was time for new leadership.

"We need to make sure the state looks forward and doesn't fall behind," he said. "I believe South Carolina and our children deserve better."

This is Miller's second attempt to unseat Wilson, who has been in Congress since 2001.

With his first campaign in 2008, Miller garnered 46 percent of the vote, he said.

"We did better than the president in the district," he said.

Miller's stop in Barnwell was part of a campaign swing through the Second Congressional District that also took him to Columbia, Yemassee and Hilton Head Island, said Lindsay Zoeller, his campaign manager.

Miller, 35, is a Beaufort small business owner. He also served 13 years in the Marine Corps, having just left the service with the rank of captain in February 2008 to make his first run for Congress.

While in the Marines, Miller served in Bosnia, Liberia and two tours of Iraq. In Iraq, Miller's battalion was part of combat operations that occurred in Al Fallujah and Mosul.

Jay Parmley, the executive director of the S.C. Democratic Party, urged the crowd to work hard to get more Democrats in office in 2010.

"We have a chance to put someone in the governor's office who will put dignity back in the governor's office and who really cares about public education."

"We have so much work to do in 2010 and the work begins here in Barnwell County," he said.

Parmley and other speakers that night alluded to Gov. Sanford's extramarital affair that became national news June 24.

"In 2010, we can change the face of South Carolina. People everywhere are talking about South Carolina, but not in a good sense," he said.

The other guest speaker was S.C. Rep. James Smith on behalf of Sheheen.

"We need someone who has lived here in the state and been educated in its schools and seen its corners and the places in-between," Smith said.

"Vincent Sheheen hit the statehouse like a quiet storm. He took on the tough issues like equity funding for schools," he said.

"We need to have a governor that uplifts our schools and doesn't trash them. We need a leader and a governor who will bring the Republicans and the Democrats together," Smith said.

Smith considered running for governor this time, but having just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan with the S.C. Army National Guard in May 2008, he decided he had spent enough time away from his family, he said.

Other local Democrats in attendance used the function to call for votes for their re-election.

On the Barnwell County Council, Thomas Williams and David Kenner are up for re-election. On the Barnwell City Council, Ben Duncan is as well.

Likewise, Barnwell County Treasurer Wendy Gibson asked for support.

"I'm up for re-election in 2010. I've been here for a decade and I want to go for another decade," he said.