Underdog Congressional Candidates Hope to Give Upstate Voters A Voice

On Monday evening, Democratic candidate Deb Morrow and Jeff Sumerel, who is loosely affiliated with the Green Party, told an intimate crowd at the Greenville Public Library they were too polite to talk to an empty chair during a candidate forum in the 4th Congressional District Monday night.

The two candidates noted U.S. Congressman Trey Gowdy (R) had been invited to attend the event, but were told his schedule prevented him from doing so.

Emily Harbin, a member of Deb Morrow's campaign staff, said that she saw Gowdy earlier at a Spartanburg gym and could "only assume he had bigger things to do later this evening."

Gowdy was speaking to a group of senior citizens at Ben Avon United Methodist Church in Spartanburg, an appointment that had been on his calendar for months, according to a Gowdy spokesman.

Getting to the issues was the biggest item on both Morrow's and Sumerel's agenda as the two discussed their platforms for U.S. Congress.

Each candidate spoke for about five to seven minutes.

Morrow, who believes in a more grassroots approach, broke her message into four parts: creating an economy that works, breaking the grip of big money, preserving and restoring civil rights, and keeping the promises made to seniors, children and veterans.

"The House of Representatives should be available to regular people," Morrow said. "It shouldn't be for those who are very wealthy or well-connected. We can't fix anything in government unless we take the big money out of the decisions."

Morrow said decisions are currently made by the highest bidder and she wants to see it stopped. According to the Federal Election Commission, Gowdy has raised over $600,000 through June 30 and Morrow has not raised any. 

Morrow said that she believes government has a role in making things work. She wants to make sure that Social Security and Medicare stay in place, that Veterans get the benefits needed and that Obamacare is strengthened.

Sumerel, who is running as the first political candidate to offer no opinion during the election, hopes to bring to a vote in the 4th District every matter brought to vote in Congress via technology.

"I'm not a politician, I've not been a politican and I don't plan to be a politician," said Sumerel, a documentary filmmaker who grew up in Greenville. He's vowed not to take any money, only run one term and has no plans to tout the party that helped to get him on the party.

So why run?

Sumerel said he got involved because he was tired of hearing about politics and trying to sort out what was truth, what was fact and what was opinion.

So he started thinking about how to level the playing field and be a voice for the voters of the district represented. He started looking at software programs that would allow for checks and balances, but give voters an opportunity to vote their conscience.

"It offers the potential to include a broader range of participants in the legislative process," Sumerel said. "Any voter would have equal chance to express and record their preferences in any legislation. That's empowerment."

Both candidates said they will continue to campaign aggressively for the seat. Morrow still hopes to debate Gowdy before election day. She said she would be out in the community meeting people, attending town halls, shaking hands.

Sumerel said that he will continue to stand on street corners carrying his cardboard signs touting Just Representation = Your Voice.