“Town Hall” event to proceed, though questions remain

Jim Mann, chairman of Oconee Republicans, vowed this week that his party’s town hall meeting will take place next week on Tuesday, October 10.  The intent to have the meeting goes back months but has been mired in controversy over how many members of the five-member county council will elect to attend.  The controversy has centered on whether such a meeting will meet the requirements of the South Carolina Freedom of Information law.  Speaking to the council this week, Mann said all legal requirements will be met.  However, as late as today, Council Chairman Matthew Durham, out of concern for the open meeting law, is holding to his previous communication that he will not call a special council meeting to accommodate the Republican Party’s meeting.  “In addition to my own declaration,” Durham said, “Councilmen Glenn Hart and Don Mize voiced their decisions in a public council forum, making it known to Mr. Mann that they would not be attending the town hall.”  That would leave John Elliott and Julian Davis.