Bobbie Rose’s official campaign “kickoff” began with a theme that might best be described as spiritual.
Members of the Charleston Gospel Chorale, of which Rose herself is a member, joined her this past Sunday afternoon at the ILA Hall in Charleston, leading the crowd of 80 in song to begin the event.
Continuing with moving spirit were the party chairs of each of the five counties in 1st Congressional District – Richard Hricik (Charleston), Richard Hayes (Dorchester), Karen Boyd (Colleton), Melissa Watson (Berkeley) and Blaine Lotz (Beaufort) – who spoke with praise for Rose.
The spirited tone changed a bit, however, when Charleston County councilman A. Victor Rawl spoke about Rose’s opponent, incumbent Tim Scott.
“I’ve known Scott,” who also served on county council, “for quite a while,” Rawl said.
Beginning with a matter-of-fact sarcasm, he described Scott’s rise to U.S. Congress as an example of the Peter Principle. “Some people are promoted too far.”
Rawl’s critique quickly became direct and blunt, though.
In each of his elected positions, Rawl said, “Tim Scott has said ‘no’ to everything we need infrastructurally in the area,” offering examples of votes throughout his political career against needed projects in Folly Beach and for the Charleston harbor, and against veteran’s benefits.
“Scott is saying ‘no’ to the exact same people who gave him a helping hand to get where he is today.
“That’s got to stop,” Rawl emphasized. “We have to get Bobbie Rose in office.”
Rose promised to fill the holes in representation she finds Scott to have created. “I do represent you,” she said. “We have the same struggles.”
She extended her promise to put constituents first into an acronym: Funding of projects that remain overlooked in the 1st District; Implementation of progressive goals; Responding to environmental needs; Supporting and sponsoring progressive legislation; and Triumph in achieving these goals.
Also speaking on behalf of Rose were Jeni Atchley (3rd Vice Chair of the Dorchester County Democratic Party) and Carlos Olivera (community activist from Bluffton).
Erin McKee, chair of the state Working Families Party and president of the Charleston Labor Council, provided Rose with a $5,000 contribution from the local electrical workers union.