Overlooking the ocean, 125 Horry County Democrats gathered for the 10th annual SHORE Dinner fundraiser Friday, Sept. 23 at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club in Myrtle Beach.
The overwhelming sentiment echoed by many who attended was a feeling of relief to be among “our own”, and to speak freely as many Democrats live in heavily dominated GOP neighborhoods. Several newcomers expressed a desire to be re-energized by the event and become more active in local Party initiatives.
Photos by Ed McQueen
“Ten years ago it was very important because Democrats were more a less a hidden entity in Horry County,” said Alester Linton-Pryor, HCDP Party Chair. For 2022 Linton-Pryor’s hope is that “this SHORE dinner will make Democrats feel closer, feel more of a family, and we can be more effective because we want to educate, empower, energize…”
Barbara Hake, SHORE Dinner Committee Chair, pointed out that the event is our biggest fundraiser of the year, our only big fundraiser of the year. We hope to bring in lots of funds so that we can go forward and support our candidates and support voter education and all the other things that help us keep our office intact and everybody viable.”
In an impassioned speech, Anna Schull, Class President at the Academy for the Arts, Science, and Technology and local activist, stressed that the future of the Democratic Party is in good hands with our next generation of leaders. Her dynamic presence inspired candidate Earnest Carson, candidate for SC House District 68, to urge every Democratic club to set aside funds to support this next generation of candidates and party members.
The slate of Horry County Democratic candidates took to the podium with unmatched passion and energy; Daryl Scott, a five-tour U.S. Army veteran is ready once again to fight, this time here on our own soil as the Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Dist. 7. Ashlyn Proux, candidate for SC House District 61, is running to support public education and so that her daughter will “have the same rights she did”.
Ryan Thompson, candidate for SC House District 106, declared, “We run because we simply could not think of doing anything else with our time.”
Trav Robertson, SC Democratic Party Chair blasted Republicans for their claims that Democrats want to “defund the police.” That, he said, “motivates the Jim Crow South…[these are] scare tactics, a subconscious tic that impacted the 2020 election.” Robertson called for a volunteer army to make calls and get the word out to vote blue, Democrats, he urged, need to “stay the ship, we have a good story to tell… there are 48 days left to STOP McMaster.”
Barbara Hake, meanwhile, challenged all in attendance to heed the words of the late Representative John Lewis to whom this year’s program was dedicated. “Let’s all make good trouble,” she said.
Our thanks to the dedicated members of the SHORE Dinner Planning Committee for making this event such a resounding success. They are:
Alester Linton-Pryor
Don Kohn
DaVita Foushee
Geri Bohunicky
Nancy Anderson
Bev Bitzegaio
Chris Carr
Carole Dwyer
Bob Gatty
Sherrie O’Savio
Penny Sunshine
Cathy Tourloukis
Rosemary Wolfe
In addition, we thank Hank Disselkamp, a member of the HCDP Communications Committee, for shooting and providing this video.
