In the Know
May 3, 2025 State Convention - Latest Update
It was stated by members of the credentialing committee at the State Convention that the management of the Form 1 process was negligent and that hundreds of potential members of the Republican Party in Pickens County were denied access to the County Convention as a result. These statements were made without supporting evidence and are hearsay at best. Here are the facts as we have gathered them related to this:
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The current PCRP leadership team has accounted for all but 2 of the official, unused state provided Form 1’s. While we would certainly like to have all of them, this is certainly not mismanagement at a gross negligence level by the Former Chairman and former leadership team.
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There were three opportunities for Republican voters in Pickens County to register for participation in the County Convention:
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The precinct reorganization meeting on March 8, 2025
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The make-up session on March 22, 2025
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The additional Form 1 submission process from March 24 thru March 31, 2025. Form 1’s were distributed to precinct leadership and members during this time based on individual requests.
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The current or former PRCP leadership team does not have any open complaints from any precincts stating they had individuals that wanted to participate who were not able to
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Based on Republican turnout at the polls, Pickens was allotted a maximum of 749 delegates for our County Convention. After the above three opportunities to engage voters to participate in our County Convention, we were able to grow our membership to 372 members of the PCRP, had 339 people register as delegates for the County Convention on March 31, 2025, and had 287 people showed up at the convention to participate.
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The venue size did not disenfranchise voters - it could accommodate 400 people and was more than large enough for the 2025 convention
In summary, the 2025 County Convention was the largest in recent memory for Pickens County, and multiple efforts were made to seat as many delegates as possible at the April 5, 2025 convention. There has been no evidence presented to support the hearsay claims that the Form 1 process was out of control and hundreds of people were denied the opportunity to participate based on the action of the PCRP Former Chairman and former leadership team.
WE ARE PICKENS PROUD AND STAND UNITED AGAINST THIS INJUSTICE
Please check back here for the latest updates from the PCRP Leadership Team as the situation evolves. Statement posted May 16, 2025
May 3rd, 2025 State Convention
On May 3rd, 2025 at the SC GOP State Convention, Pickens County delegates were not seated due to a challenge by Chris Clark against the Pickens County Republican Party and Former Chairman Bob Fetterly. In summary, the challenge is that the Former Chairman prevented delegates their right to vote and that changed the outcome of the PCRP election. Our understanding of the challenge is that 21 Form 1’s were denied by leadership which did not allow them entrance into the County Convention:
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The Former Chairman did not provide Form 1’s to party members wishing to become delegates and fill open delegate spots
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The Former Chairman did not accept Form 1’s that did not include the pink slip and did not accept copies, effectively limiting County Convention to 400
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Multiple Form 1’s were in transit at the deadline and did not arrive in time
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The Former Chairman did not accept Susan Bradley’s Form 1, claiming she did not check the delegate box on her Form 1
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Karin Kirby was not allowed to vote at the convention because she did not check the delegate box
Pickens County’s summary response to this challenge is as follows:
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This challenge was not made at the County Convention where it would have been ruled on and adjudicated. There was no challenge to the County Convention Credentialing Report which passed unanimously, and no delegates have come forward to county leadership stating they were turned away from the convention.
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Additional Form 1’s were provided by the former leadership team to precinct leadership upon request after the March 22nd make-up session. No returned Form 1’s that were copies or unnumbered were accepted by the Former Chairman per county process.
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No Form 1’s were accepted by the Former Chairman after the March 31st 5pm deadline to meet state convention filing requirements
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At the April 5th County Convention, additional members of the body from precincts with open delegate seats were allowed in by the Former Chairman with an original, completed, signed Form 1
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The County Convention venue size of 400 did not impact the election: there were 339 registered delegates for the County Convention and 21 more could have been seated
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There was inadequate due process provided for this last-minute challenge: Pickens County did not get to face its accuser, did not get to hear the evidence against it, and hearsay evidence was allowed to be submitted
In summary, a challenge did not occur at the County Convention and there was inadequate due process at the State Convention to accurately confirm the facts regarding this challenge. As a result of the extreme action by the State GOP party to unseat all our delegates at the convention, they have disenfranchised all Republicans in Pickens County.
WE ARE PICKENS PROUD AND STAND UNITED AGAINST THIS INJUSTICE
Please check back here for the latest updates from the PCRP Leadership Team as the situation evolves. Statement updated May 7, 2025
Library Board Update
Jonell Raines, President Six Mile Mountain Precinct
LOOK at what we have done TOGETHER (for no one could have accomplished this alone). But there's plenty more that needs to be done to have a MORE PURE LIBRARY in Pickens County. This is not in order of occurrence or listed by importance. This is just an opportunity for you to read through and see that WE CAN ACCOMPLISH goals!
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Brought (and still bringing) AWARENESS to our citizens,county council, legislators and Governor on this issue. We have prayed without ceasing. Held several meetings at the Campbell's home to strategically organize our efforts to protect minors.
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Educated our Senator Rex Rice on this issue and he spearheaded legislation (Proviso 27.1) to try and stop this agenda of libraries who are placing obscene material in easy access to minors. He has now introduced a new improved one that has more teeth to it...pray it passes in the House/Senate final budget and Governor signs it.
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NOW all Library Board meetings are videoed. (this is paramount)
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Eight books that were challenged have been moved or weeded...which proves our library director is not knowledgeable about age appropriateness. There are plenty more that need challenges.
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Encouraged local pastors to speak up. And several did. But we need more pastors to speak out and encourage their congregations to become active in this fight to protect the innocence of children.
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Set up a petition and received a whopping 4,013 signatures encouraging our Governor to get behind legislation to hold our libraries accountable for contributing to destroying the innocence of SC minors.
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Over 30 folks took a full day driving to Columbia to hand deliver the petitions and meet in person with the Governor to rally his support.
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Rep. Ashley Cromer of District 6 (Anderson) has introduced just recently legislation H 4123 which is exactly what we asked for and now has 38 other legislators signed on as sponsors. However, Rep Davey Hiott has not signed and neither has Rep Neal Collins or Rep. Bill Whitmire who represent Pickens County. The bill was scheduled to have a hearing but there was NOT a quorum so the meeting was canceled. So I am thinking that it will have to be filed again next year as this session is ending.
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Encouraged County Council to replace outgoing library board members with new representation that understands our community standards and the new proviso. About 10 conservatives applied for one open seat on the library board. Thank you, applicants! However, Councilman Chris Bowerdid NOT advocate for a candidate from his own district and appointed former councilman Henry Wilson who was removed from office overwhelmingly as a RINO and replaced by Dale Holloway. Henry has not shown himself to be an ally of our cause. He recused himself from book votes and stated he didn't even read the challenged books. Now it is time to replace 2 expiring board members... Lori Osborne's and Susan Childers' term. Council will put 2 more folks who understand age appropriateness and we will then have a 5-2 majority. It will be key who is placed as Chairman this coming year on the Library Board. Which should be decided in this May15th meeting coming up.
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We have empowered many citizens to speak at the Library Board Meetings. (some for the very first time) All speeches were relevant and to the point that our library is NOT protecting innocent minds.
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Citizens challenged 22 books so far by filing a reconsideration on age inappropriate books located in our minor sections of the library. We need more of YOU to step up and challenge...if you need a list please let us know and we will email you the list of books we have identified so you can choose one.
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The library board is now developing a new library card application form that requires explicit parental permission. And parents can block their child's access to checking out these books. However, it is important to note that no one in the library monitors what children pull off the shelves and go sit in a chair to read.
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Succeeded in getting the book JOHNNY THE WALRUS moved back to the children’s section where it belonged. The Director had placed it in the adult section originally. Once again proving they are not adept at age appropriateness placement of books.
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The board is now putting the list of book challenges/re-considerations and decisions made listed on their website for transparency.
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The pledge of allegiance is now added to the library board meetings agenda and at least a moment of silence for those who want to pray. (we hope to get actual out-loud prayer put in place.)
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We have become a “family” and developed amazing and growing relationships of “like minded” folks who are growing in boldness and confidence in civic responsibility.
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Books have been donated that are good conservative/christian books lately, we hope maybe we can organize a concerted effort from the Republican Party and COTU, along with Moms 4 Liberty to do a book drive and purchase more.
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Stephanie Howard will now have a yearly evaluations of her performance which wasn't happening... this is huuuge too.
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A book list with age ratings was was compiled by Jennifer Whitlock that also reveals which libraries have them available and on what shelves they are found. Jennifer also helped us get proof needed to prove how easy it is for a minor to check out an age inappropriate vulgar book without explicit parental permission. This info has been turned in to Sen. Rex Rice.
Again, folks...none of this was easy...none of this could have been accomplished without God and without YOU being active. Thank you and let's continue the good fight and never forget that with God everything is possible. We Can Have a MORE Pure Pickens County Library!