Rep. Ted Pitts‘ decision to run for lieutenant governor, then the happening of him getting called up to serve, gave former House Majority Leader Rick Quinn his chance to move to another Columbia-area, Republican-leaning district. It’s his chance to get back into the House after being ousted by Rep. Nathan Ballentine a few years ago. Early on, his fundraising operation wasn’t in the top spot, like one would expect, but in April and May he’s turned the tables in HD-69.
RICK QUINN
Contributions: $8,450
Expenditures: $7,269.65
Cash on hand: $10,695.90
Significant contributions
None.
Significant expenditures
Mail Marketing Strategies (mail), $3,592.91, $2,673
DANNY FRAZIER
Contributions: $8,000
Expenditures: $4,619.11
Cash on hand: $4,805
Significant contributions
Outdoor Advertising Association of S.C., $250
Trade group
Significant expenditures
Starboard Communications (consulting), $500, $1,500, $258.90
GARY TAYLOR
Contributions: $155
Expenditures: $3,326.19
Cash on hand: $7,334.23
Significant contributions
None.
Significant expenditures
None.
In the race to replace Rep. Ted Pitts in House District 69, businessman Gary Taylor has the most cash on hand, beating out former House Majority Leader Rick Quinn and Lexington City Councilman Danny Frazier for the Republican nomination. Frazier actually raised the most money, but he spent it as fast as it came in.
RICK QUINN
Contributions: $7,150
Expenditures: $8,054.62
Cash on hand: $9,515.55
Significant contributions
Geechie Communications, $500
Consulting firm
Chris Sullivan, $1,000
Consultant
Significant expenditures
Mail Marketing Strategies (mail), $1,661.37
GARY TAYLOR
Contributions: $7,230
Expenditures: $6,324.78
Cash on hand: $10,505.42
Significant contributions
Katrina Shealy, $100
Former state Senate candidate
Significant expenditures
None.
DANNY FRAZIER
Contributions: $11,885
Expenditures: $10,613.78
Cash on hand: $1,424.84
Significant contributions
Honda of Columbia, $300
Auto dealer
Lexington Automotive & Truck Outlet, $250
Auto dealer
Significant expenditures
Starboard Communications (consulting), $1,175, $1,000×2
Colonial Life Arena (fundraiser), $1,550.50
We were the first to report that consultant and former House Majority Leader Rick Quinn was going into District 69 and running for the Republican nomination to replace resigning Rep. Ted Pitts, though some others in South Carolina political inner circles thought it wasn’t a done deal.
Until it was.
But, oh, how times have changed. With the recent personal embarrassment befalling incumbent Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, Quinn could be changing tacks. Rumors going around the streets, booze halls and back rooms in Columbia suggest that he’s considering abandoning his return to the House and instead mounting a campaign to unseat Eckstrom. The motivation, as we were told by sources close to the situation, is that he wants a seat on the state Budget and Control Board.
With a little more than three months left until the June primary, if a decision is going to be made, it will likely be soon.
At any other time, it seem to us to be odd that political consultant and former House Majority Leader Rick Quinn would be the the first obvious recipient of thousands of dollars from Howard Rich‘s school choice largesse. Really, a guy that smart should know better. But, here we go again. Quinn got $5,000 from Rich’s shell companies in the fourth quarter of 2009 for his chance to return to the General Assembly, this time from District 69.
RICK QUINN
Candidate for House District 69 (R)
Contributions: $9,155
Expenditures: $1,734.83
Cash-on-hand: $10,420.17
Significant contributions
Richard Quinn Sr., $1,000
Consultant
Art Guerry, $50
Former Lexington County auditor
538-14 Realty, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver and Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
4220 Broadway, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332E 11, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Significant expenditures
Mail Marketing Strategies (postage), $1,734.83
