A judge rejected a challenge Monday to the Horry County Republican Party's convention, saying complaints about the way the convention was run by Chairman Duane Oliver should go to the state party's leadership before the courts.

A group of prominent Republicans had asked the judge to block the Nov. 3 party convention, saying Oliver improperly added his own supporters to the list of party delegates to ensure his re-election. Oliver was re-elected by four votes over challenger Randal Wallace, a Myrtle Beach city councilman.

Though the ruling won't be official until Judge Paul Burch issues a written decision, Burch made it clear that the courts should not decide the dispute until the complaints have been heard first by the party's executive committee, a leadership group composed of Republicans from across the state.

Burch's decision not to hear the complaints against Oliver means the controversial leader has survived yet another effort to oust him from his position as chairman of the county's largest and most powerful political organization.

Former County Councilman John Kost, one of the three Republicans who brought the suit against Oliver and the Republican Party, said he would not continue his fight.

"I will not do anything more," Kost said. "That is [the judge's] decision, and I will stand by it."

Oliver would not comment.

In the suit, the state party was accused of ignoring complaints about the way the convention was run. The party's attorney, Larry Richter, argued that the suit should be dismissed because the complaints were never presented to the state party's executive committee.

"That's how these sorts of family squabbles should be resolved," said Richter, a Mount Pleasant attorney who has served in the state senate and as a circuit judge.

Besides Kost, the suit was brought by Paul Grimm and Dick Steele, two party members who split with Oliver over his leadership. They have accused him of heavy-handed tactics and financial mismanagement.

The three men had argued that Oliver added at least 44 of his own supporters to the list of convention delegates. Delegates must attend precinct meetings to be eligible to vote at the convention. The suit also claimed Oliver and state GOP officials ignored complaints before and during the convention.

The suit had asked the courts to order a new convention.