Posted on Thu, Jan. 11, 2007

email this

print this

reprint or license this

Governor, supporters enjoy inaugural barbecue

By ALLISON ASKINS

aaskins@thestate.com

After a long day of inaugural formalities Wednesday, Gov. Mark Sanford and his family arrived at the state watermelon shed and let their hair down.

The occasion was the inaugural barbecue — a populist-themed festivity that started with Sanford’s first term as governor and continued with his re-election.

Arriving about 6:30 p.m. at the massive warehouse that had been transformed into an elegant outdoor dining spot, the Sanfords immediately took to the crowds, splitting up and heading their separate ways — all six of them.

Jenny Sanford, dressed in blue jeans and a smart, hip-length, olive-green jacket, greeted guests at one end of the shed, while her husband — looking oh so much more relaxed in jeans and crew-neck sweater than in the day’s coat and tie — headed to the other end.

Meanwhile, the couple’s four boys — dressed down in sweaters, cords, khakis, tennis shoes and Crocs — darted through the crowd, stopping only briefly for bites of barbecue and chicken, and gathering a collection of friends along the way.

At least three of the boys ended up on one of two dance floors long before their mom and dad did, even leading a conga line at one time.

The three youngest boys — Landon, 13, Bolton, 10, and Blake, 8 — cut a rug with friends and guests from the younger set to beach music favorites “Carolina Girls” and “A Double Shot of My Baby’s Love,” played by the Greenwood-based Swingin’ Medallions. Later, the revered beach music group The Tams entertained.

Elsewhere in the shed, 13 vendors served up their barbecue specialties to thousands of South Carolinians who turned out for the event. More than 3,000 were estimated to have attended, though no official count was available.

Among those attending were Joel Anderson and his son, Kyle, 13. The two headed over from Camden after Joel Anderson finished his day’s work as a warden with the S.C. Department of Corrections.

The father-son duo, both dressed smartly in navy blazers, wanted to taste the barbecue and catch a glimpse of the governor they supported.

“We brought a camera, and I’m hoping to get his picture with him,” Joel Anderson said, nodding to his son, who was enjoying what he described as a “very good” plate of macaroni and cheese.

Deneen and John Sellers of Elgin decided to attend Wednesday morning after Deneen called John at work.

“I just thought it would be interesting for my children,” Deneen said. Nearby, boys Will, 8, and Matt, 4, both said they were eager to taste some barbecue.

“She called me at work and said, ‘Want to go eat barbecue?’” John Sellers said. “I said, ‘Why not?’”

Deneen Sellers was impressed with how orderly the event was and how attractive the watermelon shed had become. White twinkling lights adorned mock palmetto trees that had been created out of the building’s dozens of posts. More than 350 flags, both U.S. and South Carolina, hung from the rooftop, and large, festive bowls of bushy, dark-green kale decorated tables.

Baskets of boiled peanuts also greeted guests, as did several wine bars and large baskets of bottled water. Sweet tea was plentiful at the barbecue tables.

“It’s been a great day,” said Thomas Jefferson Warwick III of River Falls. He and his wife, Dimi, came to Columbia on Wednesday morning for the inaugural festivities, beginning with the swearing-in ceremony at the State House.

“We toured the city and enjoyed the festivities all day,” Dimi Warwick said. They said they want to see Sanford complete efforts toward government restructuring.

“Our hope is he would finish some of the work he started,” she said.

In his brief remarks to the crowd at about 7:40 p.m., Sanford indicated that is just what he aims to do.

“Thank you for being participants in this larger notion of bringing about change in South Carolina,” he said. “In our collective hands are the keys to change. It will take all of us, but most of all, it will take all of y’all.”

Reach Askins at (803) 771-8614.