Dorchester County GOP Chair: Stop the Rumors

The message during Thursday's Dorchester County Republican Party executive committee was clear: stop talking about what did or did not happen during the party's filing procedures, .

"This only distracts and divides," Duncan said in a prepared statement to the committee. "Please, if you hear these rumors, stop them."

She cited legal counsel, advising her to not talk about the "rumors" that allege the Dorchester GOP had fixed paperwork to keep non-incumbent candidates on the ballot in the wake of the S.C. Supreme Court decision that kicked nearly 250 candidates off the ballot statewide. 

Duncan is also a non-incumbent candidate for Dorchester County Council District 5. She faced no challenger during the June 12 primary, and will face no challenger in the general election this November. 

Despite Duncan's plea, the committee members were ready for a discussion Thursday night. County GOP Vice Chair Tim Huber who motioned the committee convene into executive session to discuss the rumors and . Their questions went unanswered.

"If it's concerning the election we're not going to talk about it. So I would discourage us from going into executive session," Duncan said. 

Huber received a second that was quickly withdrawn after Duncan's statement. Dorchester County Councilman and committee member David Chinnis gave the motion a second. 

"There is so much speculation that circulating here in the media I believe it is important for us to sit down and discuss what we know as a fact, so we are not being swayed by the articles we are reading," Huber implored Duncan. "This is just looking at doing damage control at this point."

Huber later told Patch that he only wanted to help his fellow party members understand what was going on and "air" concerns.

"My intention was to enter a time to where the whole executive committee of the Dorchester County Republican Party could be brought up to current knowledge on some of the statements, accusations and things that people are getting emails about and hearing gossip from people," Huber said. 

But after obtaining a second on his motion to convene in executive session, another committee member said Duncan could stop the motion by deeming it unacceptable without further action from the committee. 

Duncan ruled the motion unacceptable and moved on with the committee's agenda — which did not include any more mention of the looming lawsuit or possible wrongdoing during filing.

Huber defended his motion to Patch Friday.

"It was done to clear the air, but unfortunately the way it was handled it only clouded the air more," Huber said.

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