In photo above L-R: HCDP Chair Bennie Swans with former MSNBC contributor Jimmy Williams, SCDP Chair Jaime Harrison, and Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY)
Amid threatening skies and a short, mild sprinkle, prominent Democrats from across South Carolina and Horry County turned out on May 2 for the historic 140-year-old Galivants Ferry Stump, the only remaining political “stump” event of its kind. Political candidates at the local, state and federal level turnout to hear keynote speakers U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley of Queens, County, New York, vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, and our own neighbor, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District. They were joined by all six candidates for South Carolina’s other six Congressional districts, including our 7th District candidate Mal Hyman.
Also speaking were Jaime Harrison, state Democratic Party chairman; Bennie Swans, Horry County party chairman; Jimmy Williams, former MSNBC contributor and host of DecodeDC Podcast; and U.S. Senate candidate, Pastor Thomas Dixon of North Charleston. Joining them were more than a dozen candidates for Horry County Council and School Board, the state legislature and the state senate. The speechifying was preceded by several hours of singing and dancing, gloriously accompanied by an outstanding chicken bog and some of the most mind-bendingly good fresh-baked cakes, bread and pastries by Cakes by Doris.
As it has since 1876, the event was hosted by the Joseph Holliday and John Monroe Holliday families of Galivants Ferry. The 2016 Stump was chaired by Christian Monroe Holliday Douglas, assisted by Russell Holliday Douglas Powell and HCDP’s own Sally P. Howard. Myrtle Beach attorney Tommy Brittain was MC. Entertainment was provided by the Red White Dixieland Boys and Girls; Rebecca Hughes Art of Dance; and the Aynor High School Ensemble.
Enjoy our photo gallery from May 2!
(L) Russell Holliday; Christiane Holliday Douglas; Sally Howard; Ann Elliott. (C) Rep. Jim Clyburn & Billy Holliday. (R) MaryEllen Greene; school board candidate Ronald Bessant; Grace Gifford
(L) Bennie Swans; county council candidate Orton Bellamy; Ronald Bessant; U.S. Senate candidate Pastor Thomas Dixon; U.S. 7th CD candidate Mal Hyman. (C) 2016 candidates line up to speak. (R) HCDP officers Bennie Swans, Nancy Anderson, Kenya Rice.
(L) Aynor High School students register to vote; Democratic Women’s Council of Horry County; SCDP Chair Jaime Harrison and HCDP Chair Bennie Swans.
