CANDIDATE CASON GAITHER NOT FROM 3RD DISTRICT

05/06/2012

R. Thomas, Reporter

Candidate not from the Third District but move in to run.

Candidates Cason Gaither and Brian Doyle opposing candidates for the Democratic Congressional Nomination in the 3^rd District appeared together for the first time at the Anderson County Democratic Party Meeting at the Golden Coral on Clemson Rd on Saturday, March 5, 2012.

Candidate Gaither, born in Columbia, S.C. and long time resident of Charleston, S.C. began by explaining that he had “moved to Greenwood” from Charleston last December, 2011 (four months ago) because Jerry Goldman from McCormick  asked him to be “their” candidate  for the Third  Congressional District.  And he said yes.

Mr. Gaither then gave a lukewarm recital of 1776 early American History of the British invasion of Charleston.  He did not address any current issues and instructed the audience that as the Patriots defeated the British “we” could win this congressional seat.

Candidate Gaither, a bachelor, looks to be less than thirty years old and gives no evidence of having performed in any public service capacities.  He appears to be a professional Charleston tour guide with a degree in international business and does not provide any specific information as to why he is suited to be a representative of the Third District other than his party affiliations and connections.  Apparently he was chosen to run by Jerry Goldman and would otherwise not have any interest in the Third District.

Candidate Doyle spoke directly after Mr. Gaither.  Mr. Doyle, a popular radio talk show personality and a native and life long resident of Aiken, S.C. reminded the assemblage that he had run for this nomination two years ago and that he was very familiar with the needs and hopes of the third district.  Mr. Doyle stressed his opposition to the Republican incumbent and the Republican agenda to privatize the Postal Service and Social Security, the laying off of many schoolteachers, and also criticized Mr. Duncan’s eight year stint as a State Representative where he waged war on the public school system and early childhood education.  Mr. Doyle reminded everyone that he was from the district, knew the district and saw, womens’ protection, job creation, education and provision of medical services as some of the most pressing issues facing this district.

It is known that Mr. Doyle has a history of public service as a volunteer firefighter, a paramedic and ambulance service owner for 15 years.  In that capacity he has saved many lives and provided great aid and assistance to the people of this district.  He has been actively involved as a broadcaster and political activist in many matters of importance to people of the third district.

We do not have a great deal of history on Mr. Gaither, partially because of his youth, he has no history, and partially because of him not being from here in the Third District.

In a follow-up interview with Mr. Doyle, Mr. Doyle said, “I must confess a certain skepticism towards candidates that move to a location for the sole purpose of running for office at the request of party bosses.”

This does raise concerns that Mr. Gaither who has no basic familiarity with the needs, issues, and problems that are unique to this District would appear to be an inexperienced  political opportunist, cherry picked by others for reasons unknown to the people, and who, without a doubt, would  be at a great disadvantage attempting to debate and defeat Jeff Duncan who is a Third District native and familiar with the people and issues affecting this District.

Mother charged with abusing her 3-year-old

Sunday, Jun. 21, 2009

Mother charged with abusing her 3-year-old

By LEE HIGGINS – lhiggins@thestate.com

The mother of the 3-year-old girl who was kicked in the head and abdomen by her father over “potty training issues” was arrested Saturday, Richland County sheriff’s deputies said.

Nicole D. Ford, 26, was charged with unlawful neglect of a child after being released from a Columbia hospital where she gave birth Friday to her fifth child, sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Chris Cowan said.

Ford is accused of physically abusing the 3-year-old over an “extended period of time,” leaving bruises to her head and body, Cowan said.

The 3-year-old remains in critical condition at Palmetto Health Richland, where she was transferred Tuesday from Providence Hospital Northeast.

The girl’s father, Keion J. Gibson, 30, was charged Tuesday with inflicting great bodily injury upon a child, deputies said.

Investigators were called Tuesday to Providence Hospital, where the girl was being treated for severe bruises and internal injuries to her head and body, deputies said.

Gibson is accused of repeatedly kicking the girl while she was lying on the floor of their apartment, deputies said. He said it was “because of potty training issues,” deputies said.

Doctors confirmed the girl suffered injuries prior to that attack, Cowan said.

The girl, newborn baby and other siblings ages 1, 5 and 6 are in the custody of the State Department of Social Services, authorities said.

Gibson and Ford are at Richland County jail.

Senate confirms Tenenbaum

Saturday, Jun. 20, 2009

Senate confirms Tenenbaum

Former S.C. schools chief will lead Consumer Product Safety Commission

By JAMES ROSEN – jrosen@mcclatchydc.com

WASHINGTON – The Senate on Friday unanimously confirmed Inez Tenenbaum as chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission in unusually swift action on a top nominee of President Barack Obama.

Tenenbaum, in her first public comments since Obama chose her last month, said her first major task will be overseeing implementation of a sweeping consumer-safety law Congress passed last year.

“I’m looking forward to being the consumer advocate for the people and for the children of the United States,” she said in an interview shortly after the Senate voice vote.

• Inez Tenenbaum

About the newly confirmed head of Consumer Product Safety Commission

Age: 58

Family: Husband, Sam Tenenbaum

Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Georgia; law degree, University of South Carolina

Professional experience: Attorney, McNair Law Firm; attorney, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd (1986-92)

Political experience: S.C. superintendent of education, 1998-2006; ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1994 and for U.S. Senate in 2004

The CPSC

About the Consumer Product Safety Commission

Headquarters: Agency operates out of Bethesda, Md., and has 430 employees

Duties: Oversees safety of 15,000 products, from toys and cribs to ATVs and toasters, focusing on products that pose fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard or can injure children

Authority: Can compel manufacturers to recall products that pose serious risk of injury or death

Outlook: President Obama is seeking $107 million for the agency in 2009-10 fiscal year, 3.4 percent more than current funding.

On deck

President Barack Obama has tapped two more appointees with South Carolina ties who must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Mignon Clyburn, Federal Communications Commission

Clyburn, of Charleston, is a member of the state’s Public Service Commission. She is the daughter of U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a Columbia Democrat. If confirmed, Mignon Clyburn will be one of the commissioners of the federal agency that regulates mass media such as television and radio.

Charles Bolden, NASA

Bolden, a Columbia native and former astronaut who now lives in Houston, has been nominated to head the nation’s space agency. If confirmed, Bolden will be in charge of the $18 billion agency.

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, who defeated the then-South Carolina public schools superintendent in their 2004 U.S. Senate race, congratulated Tenenbaum.

“I’m confident she has the determination and skills to lead this important commission,” DeMint said. “I look forward to working with her to ensure our nation continues to have the safest products in the world.”

DeMint, a Greenville Republican, had introduced Tenenbaum to other members of the Senate Commerce Committee at her confirmation hearing Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Seneca Republican, also applauded Tenenbaum.

“I know Inez and am confident she will hit the ground running,” Graham said. “She will look out for American consumers and provide the agency with the leadership it needs.”

Congressional and Obama administration sources said Tenenbaum could be sworn into office as early as next week to take the helm of a demoralized agency that saw its staff and budget cut under President George W. Bush.

Tenenbaum, 58, said Obama or Vice President Joe Biden likely would swear her into the post, which carries an annual salary of about $149,000.

Reached at the weekend – and eventual retirement – home she and her husband, Sam, have near Caesars Head State Park in the Upstate, Tenenbaum said she planned to leave for Washington early Monday to shop for furniture for her new home outside the nation’s capital.

The Senate confirmed Tenenbaum in near-record time, approving her scarcely a week after getting her formal nomination papers.

Among 166 Obama administration nominees to date that require Senate confirmation, only three others have been affirmed as quickly, congressional and Obama administration sources said.

“There are a great number of challenges facing the Consumer Product Safety Commission, but the good thing is that Congress voted last year to revitalize the agency in light of the surge of imports and the fact that we live in a global economy,” Tenenbaum said.

Two-thirds of the products the commission regulates come from overseas, most of them from China.

China’s communist government has drawn the ire of consumer advocates because of health and safety problems caused by toys with lead paint, defective drywall and other products.

“One of the important challenges is to address the issue of Chinese drywall to determine what it is that’s corroding electrical wiring within the walls and also causing considerable respiratory problems to people who live in homes that use the drywall,” Tenenbaum said Friday.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 requires tracking labels for all children’s toys and third-party certification of imported goods.

Rosen covers Washington for McClatchy Newspapers in South Carolina.