MARION - A small group of registered voters in Marion County are organizing a local branch of the Republican Party.

Local party organizers heard a presentation by Jay W. Ragley, state political director for the Republican Party, who described the protocol they must follow to function legally. He also advised them on how to become effective as a political body.

During the meeting, Jason Jordan was designated as the Marion County Republican Party executive committeeman. A Conway native, Jordan will vote on behalf of the local party at the state level during Republican meetings and conventions.

Ragley provided the group with a list of at least 500 Marion County residents who voted in the June 25, 2002, Republican primary runoff in Marion County, in which gubernatorial hopeful Mark Sanford had 390 votes to Bob Peeler’s 364.

The vast majority of the county’s more than 21,500 registered voters have traditionally sided with the Democratic Party.

Two years ago, however, the Republican Party did have a significant number of Marion County voters sign up to support Sanford in his effort to beat Democratic incumbent Gov. Jim Hodges.

At that time, Sanford was able to garner nearly 3,000 votes out of a little more than 8,000 people in Marion County who voted in the gubernatorial election.

“There was one (Republican Party) here in 2002 during the gubernatorial campaign, but after that it just sort of fizzled out,” Ragley said. “We want to encourage our people in Marion County to have regular meetings and fellowship. This is simply the first meeting of the Marion County Republican Party.”

Ragley also had those in the group fill out precinct roll forms and requested that they select a local party chairman, vice chairman, treasurer and secretary. He also informed them that campaign finance laws require that they report to the State Ethics Commission each financial quarter any monies that they take in.

Ragley also said he expects several well-known political figures to make campaign stops in South Carolina during the next couple of years as they compete for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

Jordan said the group now has a great deal of work to do.

“Our first plan is to take the list Jay gave us and start calling all of those people,” he said. “We’re encouraging those interested to join us at our meetings and to get our party going again.”

Those interested in learning more about the Marion County Republican Party should call Jordan at (843) 423-7234.

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