Up until this week, S.C. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-York) was running for lieutenant governor of South Carolina … his latest attempt to climb the Palmetto State’s political ladder. In fact Norman had reportedly gone so far as to choose his successor at the State House – York County Sheriff Bruce Bryant.
Yet after a recent visit from Pat McKinney – S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s hand-picked lieutenant gubernatorial candidate – Norman now says he has changed his mind.
Local cable television station CN2 interviewed Norman this week – who confirmed the meeting with McKinney as well as decision not to seek the lieutenant governor’s office.
In fact we’re told Norman – a wealthy developer – stroked a check to the campaign of McKinney, another wealthy developer.
McKinney was recruited last year by Haley to run against incumbent Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell, who sparred with the governor during his tenure as president of the State Senate. McConnell – who inherited the part-time, largely ceremonial office in 2012 – has yet to announce whether he will seek a full term in 2014.
Most expect McConnell to announce that he will not campaign for the office – part of his bid to become the next president of the College of Charleston.
On the Democratic side, S.C. Rep. Bakari Sellers of Bamberg, S.C. has been openly campaigning for the seat for several months. A young, moderate Democrat – Sellers has been running a decidedly centrist campaign in an effort to court a growing bloc of independent voters.
18 comments
Ralph is a lazy, privileged, jackass. I knew that as soon as he figured out he would be buried by the guy who already had $500g on hand he would bow out. He is too lazy to campaign and too cheap to put his money where his mouth is. And he has a big, proud, dumb ass mouth. Ralph was born on 3rd base and he struts around like he hit a home run.
Hey FITS, is Bakari white enough for you yet??
And it is high comedy that obscenely obese, spend taxpayer money like a drunken sailor, one fried egg & cheese biscuit away from a heart attack, never met an expansion of government that he didn’t support Bruce Bryant would even be considered for the office he holds, much less higher office. He is a walking, talking Boss Hogg caricature of a southern sheriff that is an embarrassment to York County. Conservative my ass. The only thing either one of them is interested in is conserving their power, nothing more, nothing less. Ralph used taxpayer money to help his development interests & continues to crow about hating government as taxpayers foot the bill for the road, water, and sewer infrastructure around his developments. Bruce has never had a job that didn’t involve him having his hand out for government money. What the hell does he know about anything other than hustling the system? The only people that suffer here are the voters of York Co. At least if he had run to Lt Gov, he would have been exposed as an empty suit and put out to pasture.
In the public interest, please tell us how you really feel about him. We need to know.
Just one question, who the @*&#^%$ is Ralph Norman?
He’s the grandson of Mary Levinson, twice removed… he was Harry’s adopted son – they kept that secret until John was able to give him a name. You know, Grant’s father’s daughter-in-law who had that funny blinking tic – I think she’s got her own hair-styling salon in Natchez, in the same area that Eudora Welty was from.
We’re all real proud of Ralph.
Well, that really cleared it all up!
Actually it was a semi rhetorical question. Wife’s family is from York, Ralphie is really not all that well known up there as a state rep, He’s better known as “a rich boy”.
If you like little Mickey Mulvaney you will love Ralph. They are two peas in a pod. Neither would know how to survive if they did not have a government check or a check from daddy’s business. They both need a government job, and I’m sure Ralph is upset Nicky wants to give the job to another Republican wanting a government check.
Hardly, neither one of them need the money. Mulvaney has his own money and family money. Ralphie has his own money.
So they say, and who said anything about needing money. There is a difference between needing money and wanting money. Isn’t that what Republicans say about folks on welfare. Why use your own money when you can be supported by the taxpayers.
Conservative Republicans love their government checks and government health care.
By the way, a few minutes ago you professed to not know who Relph Norman was, and now you are intimately familiar with his personal finances????.
I guessed you missed the part about a “semi rhetorical” hunh?
My question wasn’t really “who is he” it was more like “who does he think he is”. He tried the launching pad thing after his first election and it didn’t work out. All he’s doing is looking for another launching pad. I spend way more time up in York than I really want to.
As for their finances, it’s real simple to Google them http://openstates.org/sc/legislators/SCL000130/ralph-w-norman/-
but in Ralphie’s case, I have a little personal knowledge
And, Libertarians like Mark Sanford and the Pauls fall at the top of the government paycheck and benefits loving hypocrite list.
Their own money??? What did Mick or Ralph do to earn their own money? As I recall Mick had to be bailed out of a sour real estate deal by Lancaster County taxpayers before he got his government job, and Ralph has never worked for anyone except daddy’s company and the government.
Based on some of the comments old Ralph is the Cock in Cockroach
Ruck Falph
While I would have a hard time ever voting for an ally of Haley’s, why is it that you keep referring to Bakari as a “moderate”? Just because you introduce legislation as a Dem doesn’t mean you are a moderate.
Oh Yes. Ralph Norman. The man who will make you a promise and then do the direct opposite if it doesn’t suit him politically. I once had a SC House Rep tell me that when those guys come into office they have only 2 things. Their integrity and their vote. One day they will lose their vote when out of office. Hopefully they can leave the State House with their integrity! Sadly, most don’t!
if it doesn’t suit him politically
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Let’s see – a politician is paid if he is in office, but not if he’s not.
Word has it that Norman is being encouraged by certain statehouse powers to run against Loftis. The money has already been lined up to wage a fierce Lee Atwater style of campaign. We should know something shortly.