(Columbia) Jan. 21, 2004 - The politicians were downstairs in the House chamber on the night of the State of the State, but upstairs were some of the citizens they represent.

Sylvia Griffin from Dillon was there, "Oh I just love being with the people seeing and meeting all the representatives, the senators and the governor. It's a thrill to be here."

Sylvia is a retired school teacher who taught government. She's made the trip to Columbia to watch the speech for 20 plus years, "As a teacher I brought my students here every year to see the process."

It's a familiar process to Sylvia, but a new experience for Dorothy Waymer. She came from orangeburg to hear the governor speak. It was her first time at the capital, "I just feel honored tonight just to be in the presence of such and to witness what goes on within the process of government."

Sylvia liked what she heard about education after listening to the governor for close to an hour, "He said that was a top priority and since I'm a retired school teacher. I thought he did a very good job on that."

Dorothy also gave the night a thumbs up. She says on a scale of one to 10 it ranks at the very top, "And something that I am going to instill that my grandchildren come and be aware of what is going on and for them to come see for themselves like I have tonight."

Some of the seats upstairs in the House chamber are reserved for the governor's guests, but each year at the State of the State, there are more than 100 seats opened to anyone in South Carolina.
    
By Catherine Reynolds
Posted 10:14pm by BrettWitt