Connor adds more endorsements

A day after he filed for office, Bill Connor, the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor, announced four more endorsements.

Henry Jordan, the former President of the South Carolina Policy Council who ran for Lt. Governor in 2006, has endorsed Bill Connor.

“I believe Bill Connor is the only true conservative in the race for Lt. Governor,” Jordan said. “He has the experience to get the job done and a proven dedication to our state and our nation. I am confident that he will stand up for our conservative values in that position, and I am proud to support his candidacy.”

The Connor campaign also announced today that Kay McLanahan, the state’s first female SLED agent, had joined the Law Enforcement Professionals for Connor coalition.

Also, the campaign announced that General John Shuler, the Deputy Adjutant General and General Nelson Lacy, Commander of the State Guard had joined “Bill’s Brigade”, the Connor Military/Veterans Coalition.

Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.

Connor Statement on Taxpayer Abortion Funding

In response to the news that the South Carolina House had voted 57-54 to use tax dollars to fund abortions in certain cases, Bill Connor released the following statement:

“Even as a political outsider, I have noticed that some elected officials within the Republican Party have often lost their way over the past decade. One of the reasons I am running for office is to restore in deeds the values our Party claims to hold in words.

“Last night’s vote is the latest example of this. Voting to use taxpayer funds for abortions is never appropriate. It is even more egregious when this same budget is severely cutting legitimate government functions like the State Guard, law enforcement, the prison system, and our state universities. It’s no wonder that a vote like this was taken in the dead of night, designed to remain hidden from the eyes of the voters.

“I call on the 57 legislators who voted to use tax money for abortions to have a long look into their consciences and rethink last night’s vote. In a year where so many cuts have been made, surely this is not the way to spend money. I call on the House to reverse last night’s vote, and I ask for the Senate to strip this funding when they consider the budget.”

Connor Campaign announces additional endorsements

Further cementing Bill Connor’s grassroots lead in the race to become South Carolina’s next Republican Lt. Governor, the campaign today announced a new batch of endorsements.

The campaign announced that a new “Law Enforcement Professionals for Connor” Coalition will be headed up by York County Sheriff Bruce Bryant and Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers.

The Connor Business Advisory Council and Finance Team added three more business leaders: Bill Amick of Saluda, E Smyth McKissick III of Greenville, and Andrew Smart of Greenville.

State Representatives Nathan Ballentine and Greg Delleney added themselves to the Connor Legislative Coalition.

Finally, Georgetown’s representative to the GOP Executive Committee Jill Kelso endorsed the Connor campaign.

“It is important in this race to have strong support from folks with a wide range of backgrounds,” Connor said. “I am grateful to have that from law enforcement professionals to business leaders to legislators and GOP grassroots leaders. These folks know that proven leadership matters, and that I have the leadership experience and training to get the job done.

“I am particularly proud of the support of a groundbreaking Sheriff like Bruce Bryant, who was among the first in the nation to certify his department to directly handle illegal immigration cases. Sheriff Bryant has become a legend in the law enforcement community, and I am pleased to have him on the team.”

Also, the campaign announced Monday it had retained the consulting group of Sherlock and Gaines to handle continuing campaign fundraising.

The complete list of Connor endorsements is kept current at http://voteconnor.com/index.php/endorsements/.

Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.

Connor Statement on H.3245, the 24 Hours for Life bill

In response to the news that H.3245, the 24 Hours for Life bill, was being stalled in the Senate, Bill Connor released the following statement:

“Thanks to ultrasound technology, as more and more people see the development of human children in the womb, the tide is turning against unrestricted abortion in our country.

Our state has not fully taken advantage of this shift, and as a result we have the shortest waiting period in the nation. H.3245 would help move our state in a more pro-life direction and save lives by expanding the waiting period from a single hour to the national norm of a full day.

Certain Senators are playing politics with the lives of children by delaying and filibustering this bill. I call on the Senate to end the delays and pass this important piece of legislation.”

Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.

Connor Statement on Florence Earmark

WEST COLUMBIA, SC – In response to the news that his opponent had voted to spend $30K in taxpayer money to build a sculpture, Bill Connor released the following statement:

“At a time when unemployment in Florence County is up to 12.7%, spending $30,000 in tax money for a sculpture is an insult to the taxpayers. Councilman Ard has once again shown that he is more interested in pork projects than restraining government growth. If his 2006 tax increase and 72% government growth from 2005 to 2008 weren’t enough, this latest project proves that Councilman Ard is not a conservative.

“Worse, Councilman Ard approved this project in the name of ‘economic development.’ Taxpayers know that this is the same sort of stimulus we expect from President Obama and his administration, not from conservatives.

“I understand that one of the stated intents is to honor General Francis Marion. I honored General Marion by naming the advisory team I took to Afghanistan for the Swamp Fox. I have no problems with building another statue in the General’s honor; I just believe that should be done with private money, not with tax dollars in the middle of a recession.

“The voters of South Carolina are just as tired of ‘tax and spend Republicans’ as they are of ‘tax and spend Democrats.’ Throughout this campaign I have said, as President Reagan did, that Big Government is not the answer. I am confident that on June 8 the voters will reject Councilman Ard’s Big Government approach.”

Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.

Adjutant General Stan Spears Endorses Bill Connor

WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Adjutant General Stanhope Spears today announced his endorsement of Bill Connor for Lieutenant Governor.

“Having spent the better part of 16 years as South Carolina’s Adjutant General, I have learned not to give endorsements too easily to a candidate for public office. However, one of those exceptions is Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor – Bill Connor.

“He is an Army veteran and has been deployed with the South Carolina Army National Guard in the ‘Global War Against Terrorism.’ Highly decorated, he currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve. He is a proven leader!

“Besides being a dedicated family man with three children, Bill Connor understands the business climate in our state and what needs to be done to promote job growth and economic stability. He fully understands the concerns of our senior community in these difficult times but also realizes the tremendous potential and talent that resides in retirees.

“Bill Connor has all the traits – all the values – to make a great Lieutenant Governor. I am pleased to support Bill Connor now, in the Primary and in the General Election.”

“It was my great honor and pleasure to serve in the South Carolina National Guard under General Spears both in peace and in war. I am even prouder to have his support,” Bill Connor responded. “General Spears distinguished himself as a leader during the entirety his 38 years of service to the Guard, especially during his 16 year tenure as Adjutant General. I look forward to working with him as a voice for military retirees and veterans in our state.”

General Spears is the first current statewide office holder to endorse in the race for Lt. Governor. He joins hundreds of veterans from around South Carolina as members of “Bill’s Brigade,” the Connor Veterans Coalition. Other notable members of that group include Medal of Honor recipients Major General James Livingston and Colonel Chuck Murray.

Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.

Major General Livingston Endorses Bill Connor

In another sign of building momentum, the Bill Connor campaign today announced that Marine Major General and Medal of Honor recipient James Livingston had endorsed the campaign

“As a Marine who led men into battle in Vietnam, I understand the challenge of combat leadership,” said General Livingston. “Combat leadership is forged in the toughest crucible known to man. As an Infantry Lt. Colonel, Bill was the senior US advisor to Afghan forces in Helmand fighting the Taliban insurgency. Now, Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce for statewide office. I am so proud to endorse Bill’s candidacy for Lieutenant Governor.”

“I am proud to have the support of a Medal of Honor recipient like Jim Livingston,” Bill Connor said. “It means so much to our campaign to have leading veteran voices like General Livingston supporting us. General Livingston has been a great voice for the economic benefits of attracting retirees to our state. He points out that the average retiree household moving to South Carolina with pension and retirement income brings an average of three to four jobs. I look forward to working with General Livingston as head of the Office on Aging to make our state a retiree haven, allowing South Carolina businesses to create new jobs.”

Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School. Bill lives in Orangeburg with Susan, his wife of 18 years, and their three children Peyton, Brenna, and Will. They attend Christ Church of the Carolinas in Columbia.