Solicitor hopefuls campaign in Oconee

A nearly two-hour political event has ended at Keowee Key.  Nearly every seat in the golf club dining hall was occupied by members of the Oconee Republican Women’s Club.  Radio and podcast broadcaster Joey Hudson moderated a forum for the two men and one woman who are seeking the GOP nomination next month for 10th Circuit Solicitor–the job of chief criminal prosecutor in Oconee and Anderson counties.  The ballot candidates are Beth Blundy, Micah Black, and Danny Fulmer.  All three depicted themselves as aggressive prosecutors when it comes to lawbreakers as, for example, all three said they wouldn’t hesitate to pursue the death penalty for the defendant if the circumstances and other matters related would justify — although it’s rare in South Carolina that solicitors try for death penalties.  More than one question today centered on illegal immigrants who are charged with crimes.  The three candidates indicated they’d take tough approaches to such defendants — although Black made clear that illegal immigration is a problem that must be solved at the federal level.  At the end Pat Murray, president of the Oconee Republican Women, predicted voters are going to have a tough choice choosing among three, but she said she’s confident that whoever wins the office will serve the two counties well.  Two other club members told 101.7/WGOG NEWS they also were impressed by the three, but if they had to vote today they’d support their fellow Oconeean Beth Blundy.