Sister Parties
(NEW -- Click here to see pictures from the convention)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are happy to share with you the news of our very spirited and successful state convention which was held in Columbia this past Saturday.
Forty-five delegates, observers, family, candidates and friends attended. In no particular order, some of the organizations represented were: ACORN, The SC AFL-CIO, the Presidents of all three Labor Councils in the state, the President of the State Building Trades, ITPEU, OPEIU, APWU, IAM, the South Carolina Education Association, a number of college students, BCTGM, SMWIA, the South Carolina Professional Fire Fighters, IBEW, UNITE-HERE, AFGE, some ministers, a grouping of independent activists, and of course, our candidates.
Regardless of the specific agenda point, there was one theme that was consistent throughout the convention. Namely, given the WFP's commitment to economic justice issues such as, Good Jobs, Health Care for All, Quality Schools and Education for all of SC's children, the theme was how to win votes for our candidates based on these issues. There was especially much enthusiastic discussion on the possibility of the WFP line helping to win votes for the eventual Democratic Presidential Ticket, and as a result making SC competitive.
NOMINATIONS AND ENDORSEMENTS
The following candidates were nominated or endorsed:
Michael Cone, running statewide for US Senate.
Clay Middleton for State Representative from Charleston.
Eugene Platt for State Representative from Charleston.
Roger Odachowski, running for State Representative from Greenville.
Kiba Anderson, running for County Council from Richland County.
Everyone agreed that the first job coming out of the convention was to do everything possible to help these candidates in their upcoming primaries in the Democratic Party on June 10th. There will be information posted on our web site about the candidates and how to reach their campaigns shortly.
RESOLUTIONS AND LEADERSHIP
The following resolutions were passed. All unanimously:
Instruct the incoming leadership to nominate onto the SC WFP line the eventual Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees of the Democratic Party.
Instruct the incoming leadership to organize an issues conference after the November 08 elections.
Support the Following:
HR676, the Conyers Universal Health Care Bill
Best Value Contracting
Quality Education for all of SC's Children
The newly, unanimously elected State Committee is as follows:
Erin McKee, Charleston, Chair, (843) 554 1080
Nick Brown, Greenville, Vice-Chair (864) 314 5949
Charles Roundtree, Columbia, Vice-Chair (803) 691 9561
Sandy Squirewell, Columbia, Vice-Chair (803) 466 1403
Bob Hughes, Charleston, Secretary, (843) 554 3655
George Short, Greenville, Treasurer (585) 981 0320
In addition the State AFL-CIO has an at large slot to be designated, and the state committee was given the right to add additional members as new groups join.
NEXT STEPS
This was easy. Do everything we can to help our candidates win their June 10 primaries. And, do everything we can to get new organizations and individuals to join the SC WFP.
THANK YOU to all who came and made the meeting such a success. And, especially to Columbia CWA for the use of their hall. If you have any questions or would like to get involved please feel free to contact me or go to our web site. Looking forward to working together and to a successful November for all of us,
In Unity,
Erin McKee
Chair,
South Carolina Working Families Party
P.S. We expect to have pictures from the convention on the web site in a few days.
