Posts Tagged ‘veteran’
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Bill Connor, the reform conservative running for Lt. Governor, today announced more endorsements.
Greenville County Councilman Fred Payne endorsed Connor’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor, as did Greenville Activist and former SCGOP 3rd Vice Chairman Thomas Baker.
Charleston Sheriff Al Cannon joins York Sheriff Bruce Bryant and Lexington Sheriff Jimmy Metts on the Connor Law Enforcement Coalition.
Vietnam Veteran FTM2 John Shafer (USN) became the 117th member of Bill’s Brigade, the Connor Veterans Coalition.
“For fifteen months, our campaign has worked hard as the outsiders in this race, pursuing the needed reforms our state needs to clean up the mess in Columbia and get our state back on track to create more jobs,” Connor said. “I am proud that folks from around the state have joined up as our grassroots army. I thank them for their support and I look forward to serving as their reform minded, core conservative Lt. Governor.”
About Bill Connor: Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. His opponent in the Republican runoff is Ken Ard. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Afghanistan, Al Cannon, conservative, constitution, endorsements, Fred Payne, law enforcement, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, National Guard, Office on Aging, pro-life, seniors, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, Tea Party, Thomas Baker, veteran
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Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – In light of recent events on the Gulf Coast, especially in watching the federal government’s responses to Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill, Bill Connor today proposed a new, unified command structure for civil emergencies. The proposal centers on the need to have the Lt. Governor working under the Governor’s leadership during a time of crisis.
“The federal government’s inept response to the two recent disasters in the Gulf of Mexico remind us that we need to be responsible for ourselves in a crisis,” Connor said. “Disaster response has failed in a bipartisan way, under both Republican and Democrat administrations. We know that, sooner or later, the next Hurricane Hugo is coming, and that we will need to be prepared to respond to that level of disaster. Now we know that we may not be able to count of Federal assistance in any immediate or meaningful way.
“This proposal intends to find a way to start the discussion for a new Administration, where the chain of command is clear, and runs through all aspects of our state government and coordinates with county and municipal governments. Clearly, we will need to work as a team whenever these disasters come, all of us pulling our own weight in a clear chain of command under the leadership of the next Governor. I look forward to fulfilling that role to the best of my ability and working as part of that team should such a disaster strike our state.”
Highlights of the proposal include:
- Recruiting more volunteers within the State and National Guard
- Coordinate education efforts so that citizens will be more prepared to be self-reliant
- Work with hospitals to provide education and training in disaster preparedness
- Coordinate efforts with the State Treasurer and Comptroller to ensure that taxpayer resources are protected and handled properly
The complete proposal can be found on Connor’s campaign website at http://voteconnor.com/index.php/2010/06/proposal-for-a-unified-sc-civil-emergency-command-structure/
About Bill Connor: Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. His opponent in the Republican runoff is Ken Ard. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: conservative, law enforcement, Lieutenant Governor, South Carolina, Special Forces, veteran
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Monday, June 14th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – As his campaign momentum continues through to the runoff, Bill Connor announced additional endorsements and a victory in another Straw Poll, this one among Upstate Tea Party activists.
The Spartanburg Tea Party announced their endorsement of Bill Connor on their website.
“Bill Connor is exactly the “everyman patriot” South Carolina needs to pull our state out of the clutches of the stagnant and corrupt GOP leadership and the maddening scenario of politicians who go to Columbia and take leave of their senses. Ordinary people know better than to spend what we don’t have and fritter away legislative sessions without any reform; ordinary people are smart enough to recognize we’ve been played by our current crop of elected officials. We look forward to Bill, an ordinary man, standing up for us.”
Also in the Upstate, the Seneca Tea Party held a Straw Poll on Friday night, and in the Lt. Governor’s race the results were:
Bill Connor 95.7%
Ken Ard 4.3%
Two more former Congressional candidates announced their endorsements of the Connor campaign. 3rd District candidate Joe Grimaud:
“I believe our state and our nation stand at a crossroads. Will we return to the values of our Founding Fathers, or will we descend into socialism? I believe that we can return to our founding values, but only if we also turn away from the leadership of professional politicians and toward the leadership of political outsiders who have succeeded in real life.
“Such leadership is best found in those who have worn the uniform of the United States military. I am proud to support my fellow veteran Bill Connor in his run for Lt. Governor. I believe his battle-tested leadership is just what our state needs to get back on track. I hope my fellow South Carolinians will join me in voting for Bill Connor on June 22.”
4th District candidate Christina Jeffrey:
“It is an honor for us to endorse Bill Connor for Lieutenant Governor. He will defend South Carolina and stand up for both the US and State Constitutions.”
Former Lexington State House candidate Jimmy Yonce also endorsed Bill Connor.
Finally, the campaign announced that Lexington Sheriff Jimmy Metts had joined the Law Enforcement for Connor Coalition
“As we stand eight days to the runoff, I am pleased to continue to gain supporters from around the state,” Connor said. “I am grateful to the Tea Party movement and to more of my past fellow candidates for their support. I look forward to a week where we discuss the very real issues our state faces and the best way to move our state forward.
I am also glad to be able to be back up on television this morning with ads that discuss my proven leadership and my commitment to limited government as the way forward.”
About Bill Connor: Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. His opponent in the Republican runoff is Ken Ard. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: conservative, endorsements, National Guard, Ranger, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, taxes, Tea Party, veteran
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Thursday, June 10th, 2010
Connor picks up Congressional, statewide candidate support
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – As his surge of campaign momentum continues through to the runoff, Bill Connor announced that multiple former candidates around South Carolina had endorsed his campaign.
- First District Congressional candidate Larry Kobrovsky
“I’m honored to support Bill Connor for Lt. Governor, who I personally know to be the Tea Party candidate that represents the values that I believe in.”
- First District Congressional candidate and Persian Gulf War veteran Katherine Jenerette:
“I have talked to Bill many times about the issues we all face here in South Carolina and he ‘get’s it’ as person who has a great understanding of the real world problems in our state,” Jenerette said Tuesday night.
“His combat military experience and leadership has proven his dedication to the highest traditions and sacrifice of service to our nation and our state,” Jenerette, a U.S. Army Persian Gulf War veteran continued. “I know that he has the ‘right stuff’ to lead as our Lieutenant Governor and I am proud to support and endorse him.”
“I encourage all of the voters of the First Congressional District to get out the Vote during the run off election in two weeks and vote for Bill Connor for South Carolina Lieutenant Governor.”
- Fourth District Congressional candidate and Air Force veteran Jim Lee:
“Last February, on the banks of the Reedy River in Greenville, I met Bill Connor at the first Tea Party in South Carolina. Since then, I’ve seen his consistent commitment to the cause of limited government, true conservative values, and honor and integrity as the campaign played out over these past fifteen months. I see in Bill the same deep, burning passion that I have to see different representation serving us not only in Washington but also in Columbia. I am proud to support my fellow veteran and citizen-statesman Bill Connor in his runoff for Lt. Governor.”
- Superintendent of Education candidate Kelly Payne:
“As hard as I worked these past ten months in my campaign for Superintendent of Education, there was a candidate running for Lieutenant Governor who always started earlier, worked harder, and kept at it longer. That candidate was Bill Connor. Bill’s military service and commitment to conservative ideals impressed me from the first time I met him. He has my unwavering support in his race for Lieutenant Governor.”
- Superintendent of Education candidate Dr. Gary L. Burgess:
“Over the course of my campaign, I was able to meet a number of committed conservatives looking to move our state forward with fresh ideas. One of those who stands out because of his proven leadership is running for Lt. Governor. I support Lt. Colonel Bill Connor’s campaign to make our state a ‘shining city on a hill’ as an example of freedom to the rest of our nation, and I look forward to working with him.”
The Connor campaign Also announced that former Congressman Tommy Hartnett, State House candidate Tony Lamm and current Oconee County GOP Chair Eddie Adams were endorsing Connor.
Connor was pleased at the response to his campaign.
“I have spent the past fifteen months working to get our state back on track from the damage the politicians have done over the past ten years,” Connor said. “I am pleased that these candidates who are my fellow outsiders (and in some cases also my fellow veterans) have seen my commitment on the campaign trail day in and day out.
“I am very grateful for their support and look forward to working with them to bring conservative-minded reforms that will begin to clean up the mess in Columbia.”
About Bill Connor: Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. His opponent in the Republican runoff is Ken Ard. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: conservative, education, endorsements, evangelical, FairTax, Gary Burgess, GOP Chair, Jim Lee, Katherine Jenerette, Kelly Payne, Larry Kebrovsky, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, taxes, Tea Party, Tommy Hartnett, veteran
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Friday, June 4th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – In response to the attacks on Bill Connor’s combat record leveled by Larry Richter on live television Friday, Bill Connor released the following statement:
“For a non-veteran to make slanderous statements about a combat veteran’s service is unconscionable, yet typical of the slimy South Carolina politics we have seen so evident this week. Today’s attack was similar in form and fashion to last night’s racist outburst from Senator Jake Knotts, only without the alcohol excuse.
“I don’t believe that it is a coincidence that Senator Knotts has endorsed Larry Richter in this race. I also don’t believe that it’s a coincidence that a desperate Larry Richter would choose to make these attacks only four days before the Republican primary.
“This kind of behavior has become sadly typical of members of the political class desperately trying to hold on to their power. We have reached a point where losing Establishment candidates will say or do anything to smear their opponents. This must stop if we are to move our state forward.
“I call on the leadership of the Republican Party to join me in condemning these scurrilous negative attacks in no uncertain terms, and end the cycle of the politics of personal destruction in this state. Lee Atwater repented of his style of politics before he died; his followers need to do the same.”
The comments were made on WMBF’s News This Week program, and can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/22t8l9h.
Connor’s Officer Evaluation Reports from his time in Afghanistan are available on his website at http://voteconnor.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Connor_OER.pdf.
Video of a previous attack from Richter on the concept of combat leadership can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stW649OAtpE.
Video of Richter trumpeting his endorsement of Senator Knotts can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3wAHw56ehk.
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Afghanistan, conservative, Dylan Goff, Helmand, Lieutenant Governor, Medal of Honor, military retirement, National Guard, Office on Aging, Ranger, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, veteran
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Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Five days before the Republican Primary, Bill Connor, the conservative choice for Lt. Governor, announced additional endorsements.
The South Carolina Black Conservative Movement announced their endorsement of Bill Connor for Lt. Governor.
“We at SCBCM believe Lt. Bill Connor’s commitment to his military service, dedicating to protecting the tenets of The U.S. Constitution, will transcend into his position as Lt. Gov. of SC in protecting our God given rights, and our rights as outlined in The U.S. Constitution. Also, Bill has proven leadership skills that SC needs for the office of Lt. Gov. as we head into the future with the many political battles to confront and conquer.”
John Holmes of Anderson, who owns multiple Chick-Fil-A restaurants in the Upstate joins the Connor Business Advisory Council.
Jim Blair of Union, the President of the Vietnam Veterans of South Carolina, joins “Bill’s Brigade,” the Connor Veterans Coalition.
“I am so pleased to pick up this late breaking support in the race,” Connor said. “As the son of a wounded Vietnam veteran, I am particularly proud of the endorsement of the commander of the Vietnam veterans association in our state. As the head of the Office on Aging, I will endeavor to reach out to veterans and ensure that they, and all of our seniors, get the care they need.”
About Bill Connor: Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: abortion, Afghanistan, Bill of Rights, Black Conservatives, Chick-Fil-A, Christian, conservative, constitution, endorsements, evangelical, FairTax, Lieutenant Governor, Office on Aging, pro-life, Republican, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, taxes, Tea Party, veteran, Vietnam
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Six days before the Republican Primary, Horry County’s leading conservative organization, Conservatives for Responsible Government PAC endorsed Bill Connor, the conservative choice in the race.
“I am proud to have the support of this terrific conservative organization,” Connor said. “This is a group I have spoken to on numerous occasions over the past fifteen months, and I am truly grateful that they agree with my message of limited government and greater freedom. Thanks to all of the Board for their consideration and support.”
About Conservatives for Responsible Government:
Conservatives for Responsible Government P.A.C., (CRG for short) is a locally organized grass roots political action committee founded in 2008. We have continued to help local residents become aware of the issues that impact the Grand Strand, and to promote a conservative platform in all elections effecting the community on a local, state and national level.
CRG’s President, Dennis J. DiSabato, Jr., a local attorney, has taken over that role in 2010 and has spearheaded the effort to make endorsements in the upcoming crucial election cycle. The Board is comprised of the aforementioned Mr. DiSabato, Art Nordstrom, Vice President, Carol Kinsman, Secretary/Treasurer, Art Kinsman, Laura Best, Sally Stillwagon, Sandra Wrenn, and Nicole Brady.
Contact Information: Mr. DiSabato can be contact at 843-903-1212 (office) or 843-333-9823 (mobile) and via email at dennis@djdlawfirm.com. His office is located at 3874 Renee Drive, Unit C, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579 (Carolina Forest).
About Bill Connor: Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Christian, Citadel, conservative, Conservatives for Responsible Government, constitution, endorsements, FairTax, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, Office on Aging, pro-life, Republican, school choice, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, taxes, Tea Party, veteran
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
“Bill Connor is the kind of man heroes are made of.”
— Rita Cosby, three-time Emmy winner, New York Times bestselling author, and author of the new book, QUIET HERO, a story about her father’s service in the Polish Resistance
Newspapers:
Charleston Mercury
“One of SC’s up and coming leaders…”
Spartanburg Herald-Journal
“Several things stand out about Bill Connor…and first among them is this: He has a clear vision for his time in office…”
Myrtle Beach Sun News
“…the most well-rounded tea party candidate in the state….combines a heroic military record with a law degree and small-business experience, and he delivers his message of conservative reform with a sincerity and enthusiasm that is difficult not to admire…”
Elected Officials:
South Carolina Adjutant General Stan Spears:
“Bill Connor has all the traits – all the values – to make a great Lieutenant Governor.”
Rep. Wendy Nanney (R-Greenville):
“Bill Connor has a record as a proven leader with executive experience and as a strong conservative on issues like life, marriage, and limited government.”
Congressman Joe Wilson:
“Bill Connor should be commended … for his selfless commitment to this nation.”
Military Leaders:
Major General James E. Livingston, Medal of Honor Recipient from Mt. Pleasant, one of the four surviving Medal of Honor Recipients who support Connor:
“Bill’s proven combat leadership, his legal education, and his experience helping his wife Susan start her small business uniquely qualifies him for that role.”
Major General Paul Vallely, Fox News Analyst and noted author:
“We are in dire need of principled public servants who will put loyalty to the Constitution and the principles that guarantee our freedom ahead of party affiliation, money and special interests. I believe Bill Connor will keep that oath as Lieutenant Governor.”
Major General Roger Sandler, former US Army Reserve Chief and Commander of the Army Reserve Command:
“You are one of the very few who run for public office who can claim a military service background. Your dedication and sacrifice by both you and your family, compliment your willingness to serve our state.”
Gene Wilbur, Commandant of the Marine Corps League in South Carolina:
“Bill’s dedication to our country reflects the values that we Marines hold dear.”
Dylan Goff, the newest member of the Citadel Board of Visitors:
“As an army captain under Bill’s command in Helmand, I’ve seen his leadership up close and personal in the toughest environment imaginable. I believe his leadership skills and his sense of duty and honor make him uniquely qualified for the job of Lt. Governor.”
W. Thomas Smith, Military policy analyst:
“The great Swedish warrior king Gustavus Adolphus once said, ‘A good Christian will never make a bad soldier.’ Bill Connor — a man of great faith and strong Christian values — is no exception.”
Notable:
Krista Cogdill of Greenville, a former competitor in the race for Lt. Governor:
“I have a lot of respect for the person that Bill has demonstrated himself to be. As I have spent time researching his values, background and objectives and as the only other political outsider in this race, I am pleased to endorse Bill Connor for Lt. Governor of South Carolina.”
Dr. Henry Jordan, Past President, SC Policy Council, and former Lt. Governor candidate:
“I believe Bill Connor is the only true conservative in the race for Lt. Governor. He has the experience to get the job done and a proven dedication to our state and our nation.”
Blogs:
FITSNews.com:
“We are endorsing Bill Connor for S.C. Lt. Governor because based on what matters most to us he’s the best candidate for the job…it is Connor’s consistent support for core fiscal conservative principles that have positioned him head and shoulders above his opponents in this race…”
Redstate.com:
“Were I in South Carolina, I’d certainly be supporting Bill Connor for Lt. Governor.”
The Garnet Spy:
Most importantly, Connor will be a tough citizen’s proponent when presiding over the South Carolina Senate. I believe those who engage in the procedural shenanigans in that body that have stifled transparency and progress will find a formidable adversary in Lt. Governor Bill Connor.
The Army Ranger motto is “Rangers Lead The Way.” but I think the phrase that’s splashed across the top of the Special Operations web site fits Bill Connor even better:
“No Bull, No Bias, No Pressure.”
Cory Truax, “3 Conservatives” blog:
“Bill Connor is a dynamic leader with profound experiences. An Afghan war vet and attorney, a father and husband, he speaks the language of small government, low taxes, and economic growth.”
Milblogger Blackfive:
“With leadership principles like “Mission first, men always,” and “leaders eat last,” it appears that the Palmetto State will be in good hands.”
Rob Watts, “Next Generation Conservative” blog, Lexington Young Republican Chair:
“Above all else Bill Connor is a true leader that believes in the Constitution and the vision of our Founding Fathers. He believes in the sovereignty of South Carolina. He has a constitutional mindset that will not glaze over his role as he has already raised his hand to swear to defend the Constitution of the United States. Now he will defend the tax payers of South Carolina.”
Bette Cox, Florence Republican activist:
“I have had the privilege of asking Bill every question I could think of and was quite happy with his answers… I support Bill Connor.”
PACS/Tea Parties:
Scott Wheeler, Executive Director, The National Republican Trust PAC:
“The great state of South Carolina, just as with the rest of the nation, is in need of great leadership from citizens and not stale politicians who are self interested. Bill Connor is one of those leaders that are so badly needed right now.”
Myrtle Beach Tea Party:
“Bill Connor is formally endorsed by the non-partisan Myrtle Beach Tea Party for Lt. Governor for the state of South Carolina.”
Union County Tea Party:
“Today, members of the Union County Tea Party made a unanimous decision to endorse Bill Connor for Lt. Governor. After careful examination of all candidates, the Union Tea Party is proud to announce their support for Bill Connor.”
Tags: Army Reserve, endorsements, Fox News, Joe Wilson, Lieutenant Governor, Medal of Honor, National Guard, newspaper, pro-life, Ranger, Republican, Rita Cosby, school choice, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, Stan Spears, veteran, Wendy Nanney
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Connor showing Upstate momentum
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – As the race for South Carolina Lt. Governor enters the final week of the primary, Bill Connor, the conservative choice in the race, is picking up significant momentum, especially in the Upstate.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Connor picked up three key Greenville endorsements.
Greenville County Council Chairman Butch Kirven, a retired Brigadier General of the Army National Guard and past President of the National Guard Association of South Carolina announced his support for Connor.
Greenville Activist and GOP 3rd Chair Evert Headley named Connor one of “Everts Electables”.
“Professing Christian who is open about his Christian faith. Former Lt. Col. in the army. Strong conservative leader. Both a fiscal and social conservative. Strong pro-life and staunch defender of gun rights. Many of the tea parties throughout the state have endorsed him. Endorsed by Stan Spears (current Adjutant General), Dr. Bob Jones III, and Dr. Bob Taylor…
I believe the race will come down to Connor and Ard, and I believe Connor is the better candidate.
I will be voting for Connor.”
Also announcing his support for Connor is former Greenville Executive Committeeman Doug Wavle.
Also joining the Connor Campaign’s Finance and Business Advisory Council is Scott Middleton of Agape Health Care in Irmo, a leader in the adult health care industry.
“From Day One of this campaign, we have focused the majority of our time and efforts to the Upstate,” Connor said. “I knew as an outsider that I would have to push hard in areas where I wasn’t well known, and the Upstate was the critical area, with one-third of the statewide primary vote.
“I am very pleased that these efforts are paying off, with these new supporters, the endorsement of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, and key folks like Senator Danny Verdin, Rep. Wendy Nanney, Rep. Tommy Stringer, Dr. Bob Taylor, Dr. Bob Jones, III, Darwin Simpson, Larry Bateman, Terry Simmons, Doug Cobb, Philip Bowers, the Boiling Springs Tea Party, Bo Aughtry, Sonny Kinney, John Gramling, Carroll Rushing, Tex Small, Andrew Smart, Carl Stecker, Charlie Tapp, and Krista Cogdill.
With just 7 days to go, I am confident our Upstate strategy will pay off with votes on Election Day. I ask Upstate citizens for their votes on June 8.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Christian, conservative, endorsements, evangelical, FairTax, Lieutenant Governor, pro-life, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, Tea Party, Upstate, veteran
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Thursday, May 27th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – In response to the news of the death of John Finn, the Navy veteran whose heroic actions at Pearl Harbor earned him the Medal of Honor, Bill Connor released the following statement:
“John Finn’s heroism, standing by his guns as the Japanese planes continued their strafing attack, is legendary. John Finn and other heroes like him were examples to me growing up in a military family, and a major reason why I chose a military career.
“It seems fitting that as we head into the Memorial Day weekend, we pay special tribute to this member of the Greatest Generation who gave us the freedom we cherish.
“John’s family will be in our family’s prayers this Memorial Day, and I hope South Carolinians will consider his sacrifice, and the sacrifice of all those who died to protect our freedoms. Those include two men I served with in Afghanistan who gave their lives – SGT Ed Philpot and SSGT James Bullard. May we always honor their service and sacrifice.”
Finn was the oldest surviving Medal of Honor recipient. Connor is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to run for statewide office in South Carolina, having served as the Senior American Advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Connor has been endorsed by all four surviving South Carolina Medal of Honor recipients.
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Afghanistan, John Finn, Medal of Honor, Pearl Harbor, Ranger, Special Forces, veteran
Posted in blog | 3 Comments »
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Ericksen endorses Connor, who also wins Florence GOP Straw Poll
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Erick Erickson, the blogger behind RedState.com, one of the leading conservative blogs in the country, has announced his endorsement of Bill Connor for South Carolina Lt. Governor.
“Of all the candidates in the race for Lt. Governor, the one who has stood out for me as different from the establishment has been Bill Connor… Connor is a veteran and recipient of a Bronze Star after serving in Afghanistan… Were I in South Carolina, I’d certainly be supporting Bill Connor for Lt. Governor.”
The endorsement comes on the heels of the recently announced Charleston Mercury, and Spartanburg Herald-Journal endorsements.
In addition, on Tuesday night, Connor picked up a win in a key straw poll. The Florence County Republican “Loyal Republican Night” straw poll ended with Connor picking up 54% of the vote. His nearest competitor, a Florence elected official, held 41%.
Finally, the campaign added MSGT Marvin Mobley (USAF, Retired) to Bill’s Brigade, the Connor Veterans Coalition.
“I am grateful to Erick for his endorsement and support,” Connor said. “Erick is one of the leading bloggers in the country, standing up for conservative values and candidates.
“I also want to say thanks to all who came to the Florence Straw Poll on Tuesday night. That was a big win in an opponent’s hometown, and I appreciate those who were involved in making it happen.
“With only 12 days to Election Day, I will continue to do what I’ve done for the past 14 months as a candidate: work hard promoting the message the government solutions aren’t the answer: Freedom is the answer. I am pleased that the citizens of South Carolina understand that message better than the professional politicians, and I continue to work for their votes on June 8.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Afghanistan, Citadel, conservative, endorsements, Erick Erickson, evangelical, FairTax, Florence COunty, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, pro-life, Ranger, Redstate, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, straw poll, taxes, Tea Party, veteran
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Thursday, May 27th, 2010
With Memorial Day approaching, I am thinking about those I served with in Southern Afghanistan who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. In Particular, SSG James Bullard and SGT Ed Philpot. Both men were the first of our unit to make the ultimate sacrifice. Pray for Stephanie, Holly, Lily, and Ella Philpot. Pray for Amber and Hayden Bullard.
Tags: Afghanistan, Memorial Day, veteran
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Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
I thought I’d let you know where we would be this weekend. As the first post-9/11 combat veteran to run for SC statewide office, this is a pretty big weekend.
Friday evening I will be in Greenville – can’t talk about that much right now, but will share later.
Saturday I will be in Myrtle Beach for the Veterans Appreciation Days celebrations there. The Parade with Buzz Aldrin starts at 10:30AM
Sunday I will be speaking at the Siloam Baptist Church in Greenwood, then heading up to Anderson for the Memorial Day service at the American Legion hall at 3PM
Monday will be busy. I will be at the veterans events in Pickens (Sunrise Cemetery) at 10AM, Anderson (Veterans Home) at 11AM, and Oconee (Veterans Park) at noon. We’ll be finishing up at the Newberry Memorial Day Tea Party in downtown Newberry at 5PM that night.
See you on the trail!
Tags: Afghanistan, family, Iraq, Lieutenant Governor, Medal of Honor, Memorial Day, National Guard, Ranger, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, Tea Party, veteran
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Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Less than a week after picking up the first newspaper endorsement of the primary season, Bill Connor, the conservative choice for Lt. Governor, was today endorsed by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
“Several things stand out about Bill Connor, 42, in a crowded field seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, and first among them is this: He has a clear vision for his time in office…Connor wants to increase the (Office on Aging) even further by leading the charge to make South Carolina a top destination for retirees. He’s done his homework on the subject and can quote a raft of statistics on how much economic vitality retirees can bring to the communities in which they relocate and how little they require in the way of services.
“He wants to use the Aging Office as a way to reach out to veterans, wants to see every General Assembly vote recorded and wants to work for the adoption of a Fair Tax and elimination of the state income tax.
“Connor calls himself a “conservative who is not a party guy” and wants to see government leadership move away from career politicians. He believes his leadership and professional qualifications are particularly apt because they have come from outside the political system.
“…What (Ard) does not have is Connor’s fresh and specific vision for the office and his unique leadership qualifications… It is because of that energy and vision, because of his leadership history and because of his specific plans for the office that Bill Connor deserves to face Democrat Ashley Cooper in November for the office of lieutenant governor.”
The endorsement comes on the heels of the Charleston Mercury endorsement announced last week.
“I am very pleased to pick up the endorsement of one of South Carolina’s largest daily newspapers,” Connor said. “I am pleased that the Herald-Journal spent time closely reviewing our plans to help move the state forward and took the time to conduct lengthy interviews prior to this announcement. As the paper noted, I am the conservative in this race, not the “establishment” candidate.
“I plan to bring the fresh perspective of someone who has not been part of the political system and help reform state government. I will continue to work to end our state corporate and personal income tax, bring in retirees through the Office on Aging, and stand up for accountability in our State Senate. ”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Citadel, conservative, endorsements, FairTax, Helmand, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, National Guard, Office on Aging, Ranger, Republican, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Spartanburg Herald Journal, Special Forces, taxes, Tea Party, veteran
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Monday, May 24th, 2010
Laurens, Aiken County Tea Parties join Republican Liberty Caucus endorsing Connor
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Bill Connor, the conservative choice for Lt. Governor, today announced his campaign had been endorsed by three more conservative organizations.
The Aiken County Tea Party Express and the Laurens County Tea Party announced their endorsements of Bill Connor after votes of their membership. Aiken and Laurens join the Myrtle Beach, Boiling Springs, Union, and “Stand Up SC” Tea Party organizations endorsing Connor. No Tea Party organization in South Carolina has endorsed any other candidate for Lt. Governor.
In addition, the Republican Liberty Caucus National Board announced that its South Carolina endorsement slate included Bill Connor, as well as Senator Jim DeMint.
“The Republican Liberty Caucus National Board is offering an outstanding slate of liberty-oriented candidates who will effectively work to limit the size and scope of government if selected by voters in the upcoming primary and in November. The slate of candidates includes Bill Connor for Lt. Governor.”
Connor pointed to the endorsements as further evidence that his message of limited government and lower taxes was having an impact on South Carolina voters.
“Once again, I am pleased to be endorsed by folks who understand that the Republican establishment has lost its way,” Connor said. “These folks know that until we get back to the message of our Founders that our problems are not solved by government programs but by individual freedom, we will not see a turnaround in our society or our economy.
“I am pleased that my message of limited government and my service as the first post-9/11 combat veteran running statewide in South Carolina has so thoroughly resonated with voters around the state. I look forward to finishing this campaign strong and working to lower taxes, limit government and stimulate economic growth, not government growth, as the next Republican Lt. Governor.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Aiken, Bill of Rights, Citadel, conservative, constitution, endorsements, FairTax, Laurens, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, Ranger, Republican, Republican Liberty Caucus, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, taxes, Tea Party, veteran
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Thursday, May 20th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Bill Connor picked up the first newspaper endorsement of the Republican Primary season Thursday, as the Charleston Mercury endorsed Connor for Lt. Governor.
“One of SC’s up and coming leaders, Bill Connor, is our favorite for lieutenant governor,” The Mercury wrote Thursday. “Mr. Connor is a political newcomer but no novice on the battlefield, having served with distinction for a year in Afghanistan, returning home in May 2008. Mr. Connor is an attorney in Columbia and has relatives all over the state, particularly in Charleston. He is a sportsman who understands conservation and the need to protect open space.”
The Mercury is the first newspaper in South Carolina to announce their candidate endorsements.
“I am very pleased to pick up the endorsement of one of South Carolina’s most reliably conservative newspapers,” Connor said. “I am pleased that my message of limited government, my running battle with the political Establishment, and my service as the first post-9/11 combat veteran running statewide in South Carolina has so thoroughly resonated with voters around the state. I look forward to finishing this campaign strong and working to lower taxes, limit government and stimulate economic growth, not government growth, as the next Republican Lt. Governor.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: anti-establishment, Charleston Mercury, conservative, endorsements, liberty, newspaper, Office on Aging, Ranger, reformer, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, Tea Party, veteran
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Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Quote from a SCGOP insider:
“The SC Republican ‘establishment’ wants Ken Ard to be the next Lt. Governor.”
Great news! True conservatives are sick and tired of the so-called “establishment”. I will proudly continue to run as the anti-establishment reformer, dedicated to bringing our party back to core conservative principles.
Before we can reclaim our country we need to take back our party from the Establishment. Help me do that with your vote on June 8.
Tags: anti-establishment, conservative, evangelical, FairTax, Lieutenant Governor, pro-life, Ranger, reformer, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Tea Party, veteran
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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Lt. Governor front runner endorsed by National Defense PAC, Patriots group, 2-star General
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – As Rita Cosby, three-time Emmy winner, New York Times bestselling author, and author of the new book, QUIET HERO, a story about her father’s service in the Polish Resistance, recently noted, “Bill Connor is the kind of man heroes are made of.”
That may be why his campaign is surging to a commanding lead in the polls. Today, Bill Connor, the runaway front runner for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor, announced a new batch of endorsements.
The National Defense PAC agreed with Cosby, announcing their endorsement of Connor for Lt. Governor on Tuesday.
“Bill Connor has NATIONAL DEFENSE PAC’s full support for election to the South Carolina Lieutenant Governor’s office,” National Defense PAC Chairman Rear Admiral (Ret) James Carey stated. “He served our country in America’s armed forces, knows military hardships and dangers first hand, and is committed to keeping the promises made to our veterans when they agreed to risk their lives to face America’s enemies. He has ‘walked in their shoes,’ most recently in Afghanistan, and understands what it takes to train, fight and win. Bill shares the values of America’s veterans and has learned about sacrifice, courage, decisiveness, and leadership in the most challenging dimension, combat. He has been tested and proven. Bill Connor is the leader we need in South Carolina.”
The Palmetto Patriots, a statewide conservative organization, also announced their endorsement after a unanimous board vote Tuesday night. The organization interviewed and vetted numerous candidates for various statewide races.
“After a rigorous vetting process, we are pleased to endorse Bill Connor. He is clearly the conservative candidate in the race for Lt. Governor. We are most impressed by his integrity and his dedication to conservative values, and believe that he is the candidate who will work to protect our Constitutional rights. In these difficult economic times, Bill Connor is the man to trust.”
In addition, Major General Darwin H. Simpson, a Spartanburg business leader with 30 years of military service, including commanding the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, has joined “Bill’s Brigade,” the Connor Veterans Coalition.
“We are down to twenty days remaining in this primary campaign, and I am thrilled to have the support of a growing coalition of South Carolinians,” Connor said. “Tuesday night’s election results show that voters are tired of career politicians and are demanding a return to our conservative, free market roots. I am proud to be the candidate running on that platform for South Carolina Lt. Governor, the first 9/11 combat veteran to announce for statewide office in South Carolina, and the only Republican candidate for Lt. Governor who is a true outsider. I am pleased to receive the support of folks who understand that message and agree that I am the right choice for Lt. Governor.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Afghanistan, Bill of Rights, Christian, Citadel, conservative, constitution, Darwin Simpson, endorsements, evangelical, FairTax, Helmand, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, National Defense PAC, National Guard, Palmetto Patriots, pro-life, Ranger, Republican, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, taxes, Tea Party, veteran
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Monday, May 17th, 2010
Lt. Governor front runner endorsed by leading veterans, blogger, Rock Hill businessman
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – As his campaign surges to a commanding lead in the polls, Bill Connor, the runaway front runner for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor, today announced additional endorsements.
Lt. Gen. Claudius “Bud” Watts III (USAF, Retired) of Charleston joins “Bill’s Brigade,” the Connor Veterans Coalition. General Watts is the former President of The Citadel, and the Watts Barracks at the Citadel are named for him. General Watts had a 31-year Air Force career that culminated in his position as Comptroller for the Air Force.
Also joining Bill’s Brigade is CSM James “Boo” Alford of Columbia, a special forces veteran from Korea and Vietnam. Alford was one of the first African American soldiers to serve at the newly integrated Fort Jackson in 1951. Alford currently serves on the board of the First Tuesday Republican Club.
In addition to Watts and Alford, Bill Brigade also adds WWII Army Air Corps CPL John Reynolds, Navy TM2 Alan Simmerson, Army Reserve LTC Bryan Franklin, and Coast Guard CWO John Brindle.
In addition, FITSNews.com announced their endorsement.
“We are endorsing Bill Connor for S.C. Lt. Governor because based on what matters most to us he’s the best candidate for the job,” they wrote in a post on Wednesday. “It is Connor’s consistent support for core fiscal conservative principles that have positioned him head and shoulders above his opponents in this race.”
Finally, David Angel of Rock Hill joins the Connor Business Advisory Council.
“This surge of late support in the race is the culmination of 15 months of work since I announced my candidacy,” Connor said. “As we enter the final three weeks of the campaign, I am confident that our message of limited government and a return to core, conservative, Constitutional principles will continue to resonate with South Carolina voters.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. Bill’s opponents are Ken Ard, Eleanor Kitzman, and Larry Richter. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School
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Tags: Citadel, conservative, endorsements, FairTax, Helmand, Lieutenant Governor, military retirement, National Guard, pro-life, Ranger, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, taxes, Tea Party, veteran
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Friday, May 14th, 2010
“Bill Connor is the kind of man heroes are made of.” — Rita Cosby, three-time Emmy winner, New York Times bestselling author, and author of the new book, QUIET HERO, a story about her father’s service in the Polish Resistance
Tags: endorsements, military retirement, Ranger, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, veteran
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Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
cross posted from Human Events – 5/11/2010
By W. Thomas Smith, Jr
U.S. Army Lt. Col. (then major) Bill Connor had experienced little combat action prior to Aug. 21, 2007. It was early in his deployment to Afghanistan, and much of his experience at that point had been IED attacks.
But the series of ambushes that unfolded that day against him as he led a six vehicle convoy south of Forward Operating Base Martello in Kandahar Province was so close (nearly eyeball-to-eyeball) and intense, the 39-year-old Airborne-Ranger infantry officer briefly wondered if he or any of his men would get out alive. Others briefly questioned their survival too.
“Briefly,” mind you, because as anyone who has ever experienced combat-action knows, once the shooting starts, all the training and rehearsals for just such a scenario kick-in. The adrenaline is surging, blood-pressure is spiking, and everyone is operating on instinct, command, and commonsense.
Connor recalls his vehicle – a five-ton truck in which he was sitting on the passenger side (vehicle commander’s position) – being struck by automatic weapons fire from both sides of the road; “bullets cracking all around the crew compartment of our vehicle” he writes in his after-action report.
Instantly, suppressive fire was returned by Sergeant (then Specialist) Maurice Leonard ripping into the Taliban ambush with his FN Herstal 7.62mm belt-fed M240 machinegun from a top-mounted turret. All vehicles were racing to get out of the kill zone. All gunners were blasting away with M240s and M249 5.56mm light-machineguns. And all passengers were returning fire when possible with M4s (the carbine version of the 5.56mm M-16 rifle).
For Connor and his driver Specialist Alonzo Escorza, however, their primary weapons – the M4 – proved less practical than their pistols.
“We had to use our [Beretta 9mm] pistols because the M4 carbine was not practical to use out of the five-ton,” Connor – who is currently campaigning for the office of South Carolina Lt. Gov. – told me during a conversation about Afghanistan this week. “The cramped crew situation and firing outside of the windows was just not going to work. Thank goodness my holster [a Blackhawk with a quick-release SERPA lock-technology button] allowed for a quick draw and I was able to reach out of the window, and aim my pistol to fire.”
He adds, “My holster was a ‘side’ holster that strapped on my leg and belt. It was like you see in cowboy movies or ‘Hans Solo’ in Star Wars. The 9mm ‘clicked’ into a locked position in the hard plastic holder. To draw the weapon all you did was push a small button and it came out quickly. This was much, much easier than the Army issue holster that hooked on the belt and was soft. You had to spend seconds to get it out to use it if necessary.”
Seconds they did not have.
A bit of post-conversation research on this particular fight, and I discovered that these men in these six vehicles – a mix of four Humvees and two trucks – were struck by multiple complex ambushes for at least seven kilometers (nearly 4.5 miles), and the enemy was trying to kill these isolated Americans with near-and-far small arms, mortar, and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire.
Connor – in the commander’s seat of the third vehicle – had a radio in his left hand and his 9-mil in his right trying to keep the enemy from killing the dangerously exposed Leonard, and Escorza was driving and firing his pistol out of the left side window.
The enemy – particularly the RPG men — were attacking suicidally, rushing up close to make sure their rockets hit the vehicles. Two vehicles were in fact struck by RPGs, one nearly destroyed. Many of the attackers were shot-to-death at near point-blank range.
“They were hitting us from all sides,” says Leonard. “And some were running up as close as 10-feet from us.”
Leonard himself killed an RPG man, who after being shot, managed to launch his grenade – the missile zinging into the sky – as the dead man tumbled backwards.
Connor says he doesn’t recall how long it took for his soldiers and him to fight through the 4.5-mile gauntlet.
“It seemed like a long time,” he says.
“An eternity,” says Leonard.
“In preparing for the advisory mission in Afghanistan, one trainer told us not to pay much attention to which holster we used for our 9mm pistol,” Connor recalls. ”This same trainer told us we would never use our 9mm in combat. The 9mm pistol turned out to be my primary weapon in the largest firefight of my time in southern Afghanistan. Don’t take anything for granted and take all training and all equipment seriously. Your life will depend on it.”
By the grace of God, with a few good soldiers, the Beretta 9mm (at least in the case of Connor and Escorza), plenty of ammunition and gasoline; not one American was lost in the gauntlet of hellfire south of Martello.
Mr. Smith is a contributor to Human Events. A former U.S. Marine rifle-squad leader and counterterrorism instructor, he writes about military/defense issues and has covered conflict in the Balkans, on the West Bank, in Iraq and Lebanon. He is the author of six books, and his articles appear in a variety of publications. E-mail him at marine1@uswriter.com.
Tags: Afghanistan, Helmand, Ranger, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, veteran
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Monday, May 10th, 2010
Republican front runner for Lt. Governor up statewide on Fox News, others
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Fresh off of a week of endorsements and straw poll victories, the Bill Connor campaign today announced that it was running its third television ad of the 2010 Primary cycle. The ad debuted Monday on statewide cable television.
“I want to thank the myriad of donors from around the state who contributed to our campaign to allow us to get on the air,” Connor said. “We were the first to announce, the first to post a website, the first to air radio advertisements, and the first up on television during February’s Daytona 500 broadcast. I am also proud to be the first returning post-9/11 war veteran to run for statewide office in South Carolina.”
The ad, titled “Protect and Defend,” highlights Connor’s wartime service record in Afghanistan with the 218th Infantry Brigade, where he received a Bronze Star as Senior US Advisor to Afghan forces in Helmand Province and Senior US Liaison to British Forces there. The ad blames professional politicians for the out of control government growth that led to the recent economic collapse and notes Connor has “never been part of the problem.” Finally, the ad promises to “clean up the mess in Columbia”, partly a reference to the recent battle in the Senate for on-the-record roll call voting. The ad can be viewed on Connor’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/ConnorforLtGov and on the Connor website at www.VoteConnor.com.
“As we wind down the final month of this campaign, I believe South Carolina’s Republican primary voters will choose proven leadership and our message of lower taxes and restrained government. I am proud to be able to run advertisements that highlight that quality and that message,” Connor concluded.
The thirty second ad was produced by the Palmetto Conservative Alliance in Lexington, SC.
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. Bill’s opponents in the race for Lt Governor are Ken Ard, Larry Richter and Eleanor Kitzman. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
TRANSCRIPT:
We know what’s wrong. The professional politicians let government get too big, and the economy tanked.
Bill Connor is different; he hasn’t been part of the problem. Twenty years ago, Bill Connor raised his right hand to protect and defend the Constitution. That commitment took him to Afghanistan as the Senior US Commander in Helmand Province.
Now he is back to protect our Constitutional rights here at home and clean up the mess in Columbia.
In the Republican Primary, vote Bill Connor for Lt. Governor.
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Tags: advertisement, Bill of Rights, Christian, Citadel, conservative, constitution, evangelical, FairTax, Helmand, Lieutenant Governor, pro-life, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Tea Party, veteran
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Monday, April 19th, 2010
Former Opponent, Legislator, others back Lt. Governor front runner
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – As polls continue to show his campaign surging and in the lead, Bill Connor today announced six more endorsements in his campaign to be South Carolina’s next Republican Lieutenant Governor.
First, Krista Cogdill of Greenville, a former competitor in the race for Lt. Governor has endorsed Bill Connor.
“I was disappointed to hear the negative attacks from Bill’s opponent Larry Richter on combat leadership. One of the problems we face in electing the right people are the unmerited personal attacks. I wish we could focus on the issues and ideals that a candidate can offer our state rather than creating such a negative platform. I believe true leaders choose to take the high road and the truth always reveals itself over time.
“I have much respect for Bill Connor. I would like to share that when I announced my candidacy I received a phone call from Bill the following day. He called to welcome me to the campaign and wanted me to know that he would not run a negative campaign. He told me that he had a Christian staff and offered his cell number and said if I ever had a concern or heard anything being said that was not issue related to give him a call.
“I have a lot of respect for the person that Bill has demonstrated himself to be. As I have spent time researching his values, background and objectives and as the only other political outsider in this race, I am pleased to endorse Bill Connor for Lt. Governor of South Carolina.”
Fox News Military Analyst Col. David Hunt, and Dylan Goff, the newest member of the Citadel Board of Visitors join “Bill’s Brigade”.
“As an army captain under Bill’s command in Helmand, I’ve seen his leadership up close and personal in the toughest environment imaginable,” Goff said. “I believe his leadership skills and his sense of duty and honor make him uniquely qualified for the job of Lt. Governor, and I am pleased and proud to endorse his candidacy.”
Joining the Christian Leaders for Connor Coalition are Cyndi Mosteller of Charleston and Rev. Larry Bateman of Spartanburg.
Finally, the campaign announced the endorsement of Rep. Tommy Stringer of Greenville.
“I am so pleased to have this surging momentum late in the campaign,” Bill Connor said. “This support, taken with the endorsements of Tea Party organizations around our state, makes it clear that my message of freedom and a return to Founding principles is resonating with the voters of South Carolina. We will continue to work hard over the last 50 days of this primary campaign to get that message out and work towards victory.”
These latest endorsements come on the heels of the endorsement of the Myrtle Beach Tea Party, announced during their Tax Day Tea Party on Thursday. The full list of endorsements can be viewed at http://voteconnor.com/index.php/endorsements/.
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Afghanistan, Christian, Citadel, conservative, constitution, Cyndi Mosteller, David Hunt, Dylan Goff, economic development, evangelical, FairTax, Krista Cogdill, Larry Bateman, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, military retirement, National Guard, pro-life, Ranger, Republican, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, taxes, Tea Party, Tommy Stringer, veteran
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Friday, April 16th, 2010
Tea Party organizations supporting Lt. Governor front runner
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Surrounded by hundreds of cheering supporters at Chapin Park in Myrtle Beach, Bill Connor received the endorsement of the Myrtle Beach Tea Party organization during their Tax Day Tea Party. This is the first endorsement of a statewide candidate by the Myrtle Beach Tea Party, and Connor remains the only candidate for South Carolina Lt. Governor endorsed by in-state Tea Party organizations.
“South Carolina voters are tired of the rampant, out of control growth of government that they have seen in Washington and in Columbia over the past thirty years, but especially from this new administration in Washington,” Connor said. “They are tired of double digit government spending growth rates, bailouts, stimulus packages, government taking over corporations, and the federalization of the health care industry. They want someone who will stand up for our Constitutional South Carolina values. I didn’t back down to Taliban bullets, and I won’t back down to liberals in the legislature.
“I have been part of the Tea Party movement since attending and speaking to the first Tea Party on a rainy night last February in Greenville. I have now spoken at 22 Tea Parties around our state. I am so gratified that these Tea Party organizations recognize that I am the candidate they can count on to stand strong for the Constitution that I raised my right hand to defend 20 years ago.
“Recent polls show that the majority of South Carolina Republican Primary voters prefer a Tea Party candidate. For the office of Lt. Governor, I am now that candidate, and I am so grateful to have that energetic support. As a conservative candidate and office holder, I will continue to stand for the Founders’ principles of life, liberty and economic freedom that are at the heart of the Tea Party Movement.”
Connor was presented a plaque commemorating the endorsement by Myrtle Beach Tea Party President Luke Towery at the event in Chapin Park. Towery noted that the vote to endorse Connor was unanimous. The crowd for the event was estimated at 1000.
Later Thursday, Connor was the only Lt. Governor candidate to speak at the Florence Patriotic Tax Day Tea Party, which drew a crowd around 500.
Prior to yesterday’s announcement, the campaign had been endorsed by the Union County Tea Party organization, the Boiling Springs Tea party, and Stand Up SC, who has hosted Tea Parties in Columbia and Camden.
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Bill of Rights, conservative, constitution, FairTax, Helmand, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, pro-life, Ranger, Republican, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, taxes, Tea Party, veteran
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
As a veteran, I have a unique perspective on the needs of our elderly that includes veterans care. I care deeply about our elderly and want to run the Office on Aging in a way that helps take care of their needs.
The Office on Aging is a roughly $32M agency (mostly federal funds) that then disburses those funds through the ten area Councils on Aging to provide meals and transportation to seniors in South Carolina. I promise to work closely with state agencies to ensure that senior citizens in our state get all of the care and services to which they are entitled, and to bring fresh ideas and free market concepts to the Agency.
On my first day as Lt. Governor (and thus the head of the Office on Aging) I will:
- Call for a Council of religious leaders to come together to talk about ways to bring the faith community in to assist our elderly
- Call for a Veterans Council of the leaders of veterans groups around our state to come together to develop a partnership with the Office on Aging, ensuring that veterans know about the unique (and currently underutilized) benefits that are available to them.
- Create a staff function within the Office on Aging focused on veterans issues
- Create a department and staff function within the Office on Aging focused on retiree-inmigration. For every new retiree couple who calls South Carolina home, we create an average of 3.7 new jobs. I will work to make South Carolina a senior friendly place to attract thousands of new retirees and create new jobs at the same time. I want to find ways to help the Governor’s overall economic plan by finding ways to bring the right kind of retirees to SC.
- Move a Lt. Governor’s office into the Office on Aging proper, showing how serious I am about spending time and effort on this issue.
As we develop the Office on Aging I will also work to:
- Tour Seniors Centers in our state
- Ensure that the Federal Seniors Bill of Rights is enforced in South Carolina
- Streamline customer service functions so that Seniors have a single point of contact for the Agency
- Work on a partnership with the Better Business Bureau to identify which businesses have a history of being Senior-friendly and which ones have been identified as potentially predatory.
Tags: conservative, economic development, Lieutenant Governor, military retirement, Office on Aging, Republican, service, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, veteran
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – In response to the news that Dylan Goff had been elected to the Citadel Board of Visitors, Bill Connor released the following statement:
“During my time as Senior US Advisor in Helmand Province, there was one captain who showed more leadership and more tenacity than any other person under my command. Dylan Goff was a consummate combat leader in one of the toughest environments imaginable. I am so proud that Dylan has gone on to continued success back home, and I am extremely pleased that he was elected to the Board of Visitors of my alma mater The Citadel today.
Congratulations and Godspeed, Dylan.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Afghanistan, Board of Visitors, Citadel, conservative, Dylan Goff, Helmand, military retirement, National Guard, Ranger, Special Forces, veteran
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Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
I had a great chat the other day with W. Thomas Smith, a journalist with the Midlands Biz newsletter. The article is now up on their website and you can click here to read all of it. I’m proud to be the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce for statewide office in South Carolina, and proud to be a part of the first wave of post-9/11 vets running as Republicans.
Tags: conservative, evangelical, FairTax, Lieutenant Governor, Ranger, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Tea Party, veteran
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Monday, April 12th, 2010
Legislator, Military Leaders back Lt. Governor front runner
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – As polls continue to show his campaign in the lead, Bill Connor today announced four more endorsements in his campaign to be South Carolina’s next Republican Lieutenant Governor.
Major General Roger Sandler, former US Army Reserve Chief and Commander of the Army Reserve Command joins “Bill’s Brigade”.
“I am particularly impressed with the fact that you have been an Army commander serving your country in a war zone,” Sandler said. “You are one of the very few who run for public office who can claim a military service background. Your dedication and sacrifice by both you and your family, compliment your willingness to serve our state. I will be proud to help you achieve your goal and wish you the best as you campaign.”
Also joining Bill’s Brigade are Gene Wilbur, former Commandant of the Marine Corps League in South Carolina, and Michael Mika, President of the South Carolina chapter of the Special Forces Association.
“With Marines fighting in Helmand Province where Bill Connor was previously the Senior US Commander, I am particularly proud to endorse Bill’s campaign,” Wilbur said. “Bill’s dedication to our country reflects the values that we Marines hold dear. I am proud to join Medal of Honor recipient Major General James Livingston as Marines who support Bill Connor.”
Finally, the campaign announced the endorsement of Rep. Mac Toole of Lexington County.
“I am so pleased to have these leaders join our campaign,” Connor said. “These are men who raised their right hands to protect our Constitution as I did twenty years ago. I am grateful that they see in me that same dedication to serving our country as I see in them. I am privileged to have their support.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office, and the only combat veteran running for Lt. Governor. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Afghanistan, conservative, constitution, endorsements, Gene Wilbur, Lieutenant Governor, Mac Toole, Medal of Honor, Michael Mika, military retirement, National Guard, Republican, Roger Sandler, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, veteran
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Monday, April 5th, 2010
BILL CONNOR UNVEILS “CHRISTIAN LEADERS COALITION”
Religious leaders supporting Lt. Governor front runner
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – After taking Easter weekend to celebrate the Resurrection with family, Bill Connor today announced the formation of his “Christian Leaders for Connor” coalition. The coalition includes pastors, missions leaders, pregnancy center founders, Christian school administrators, home school advocates, a Christian radio legend, and an Army Chaplain.
“As someone who came to Christ as an adult, it is very humbling to have this strong group of Christian leaders rallying to my campaign,” Connor said. “These men and women have led lives of service to Christ and to our community. They truly understand the concepts of selfless service. I am so grateful for their support.
“My faith has become such a sustaining force in my life, nowhere more true than in Afghanistan. I would join many of our young men and women there in praying for divine protection through Psalm 91 before long convoys, and by the time the year was over, even the Muslim interpreters were joining us in praying in Jesus’ name.
“I will continue to stand for the values that these leaders hold dear, including the sanctity of human life and the Biblical definition of marriage. I will also work against the policies of government dependency that have so brutally undermined the family structure in our state and in our nation, leading to greater poverty – of wealth and of spirit. I hope that in turning from government as the answer to all of our problems, our state can stand as a ‘Shining City on a Hill’ for the rest of the nation to follow.”
Connor supporters being announced today include:
Rev. Craig Adams of Lexington
Mr. Warren Arthur of Darlington
Anne & Gordon Badgely of Mount Pleasant
Dr. Tony Beam of Greenville
Rev. Thomas Brookshire of Orangeburg
Rev. Charles Butler of Orangeburg
Rev. Bill Egerdahl of West Columbia
Major Ikechukwu Eweama of Fort Jackson
Dr. Ed Gross of Lexington
Dr. Bob Jones III of Greenville
Mr. Josh Kimbrell of Columbia
Rev. Max Kaster of Calhoun
Mr. Richard Summerford of Columbia
Dr. Bob Taylor of Greenville
Zan Tyler of Elgin
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his meritorious service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: abortion, Afghanistan, Christ, Christian, conservative, Easter, endorsements, evangelical, family, Lieutenant Governor, pro-life, school choice, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Tea Party, veteran
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Monday, March 29th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Bill Connor, the first post-9/11 combat veteran to file for statewide office in South Carolina and the frontrunner in the race to be South Carolina’s next Lt. Governor, today announced he had been endorsed by Master Sgt. John Baker, a Vietnam era Medal of Honor recipient. Baker resides in the Midlands.
Baker is the 4th living South Carolina Medal of Honor recipient to support Connor’s campaign, joining Major General James E. Livingston, Col. Charles “Chuck” Murray, and Lt. Michael Thornton. According to the Medal of Honor Society, there are 91 surviving Medal of Honor recipients today; only these four are South Carolinians.
“It is a tremendous honor to be supported by this most exclusive group of military heroes,” said Connor. “These men understand leadership at its most critical point, having put their lives on the line for our nation in heroic and spectacular ways on the battlefield. They fought for our Constitution and our liberties in faraway lands.
“Now those liberties are under a very different kind of threat from an ever intrusive federal government. As military officers, these men swore the same oath that I swore – to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States. They upheld that oath with their actions and bravery on the battlefield, and we are grateful to them for their achievements and their service.
“I am running for office to keep that same oath in a new way – protecting the liberties of our citizens and holding the federal government in check here at home. I am truly blessed to have the support of these fine American heroes in this endeavor,” Connor concluded.
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: conservative, constitution, endorsements, Lieutenant Governor, Medal of Honor, Ranger, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Tea Party, veteran
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Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
In response to the news that President Obama had signed the health care legislation into law, and that nine state Attorneys General had sued to stop enforcement, Bill Connor released the following statement:
“I am deeply disappointed that the President and the Congress would take these steps to undermine the Constitution I swore to uphold twenty years ago. I am pleased that Attorneys General from around the country have decided to sue against this bill, which is clearly unconstitutional on multiple grounds. I support this effort, and I would further like to commend Senator DeMint for his strong stand for our Constitution and against this federal power grab.
“The Office on Aging falls under the purview of the Lieutenant Governor, and the federal health care bill will have massive implications for our seniors. The health care rationing and Medicare mess that will be a result of this terrible legislation will fall directly on our states senior population. As a war veteran who has seen the sacrifice of our troops, I am particularly concerned about the effect of “Obamacare” on the guarantee of lifetime healthcare for military retirees. These problems will only escalate as the Baby Boom generation hits retirement age and fall under the Medicare/Medicaid programs that will be bankrupted by this flawed bill.
“As our Attorney General pursues the lawsuits to stop this law from harming South Carolina’s citizens and economy, I call on all candidates for statewide office – especially my fellow candidates for Lt. Governor – to join us and speak with one voice on behalf of South Carolina against this legislation. It is imperative that our state take this important stand on behalf of our rights under the 5th and 10th Amendments and the Constitution as a whole.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: abortion, baby boomers, conservative, constitution, Demon Pass, health care, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, medicaid, medicare, military retirement, Obamacare, Office on Aging, pro-life, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, state sovereignty, states rights, Tea Party, veteran
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Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
As a guy who grew up as a military brat and then became a career Army officer in the active duty, reserve and guard components, I have a unique understanding of the difficulties facing military families, while deployed overseas or just away for drill.
During my own recent yearlong deployment commanding US troops in Helmand, Afghanistan, my employer’s unqualified support back home was critical to my wife and our three children. Our family was able to keep the home fires burning because of the support from our community generally and my employer specifically.
I wholeheartedly support and endorse the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program for all that it and its supporting-employers does for our servicemen and women overseas as well as their families back home. The work you do is critical to our success on the battlefield.
God bless you for all you do.
Sola Fide,
Bill Connor
Tags: Afghanistan, Lieutenant Governor, military retirement, National Guard, Ranger, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Special Forces, veteran
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Monday, March 22nd, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – As early polls, including most recently from Glen Bolger, show Bill Connor in the lead in the race to be South Carolina’s next Lt. Governor, Bill Connor’s campaign today showed more early momentum, announcing another round of military and business endorsements.
Major General Paul Vallely (US Army, Retired), a published author and regular military analyst for the Fox News Network, has endorsed Bill Connor.
“I am pleased and proud to announce my early endorsement of your candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. After reviewing your background and your position statements on the critically important issues facing our nation, I have no doubt that you understand the national security and domestic issues facing our great Nation and, particularly, the people of South Carolina.
I trust that you will bring the necessary leadership that we vitally need. We are in dire need of principled public servants who will put loyalty to the Constitution and the principles that guarantee our freedom ahead of party affiliation, money and special interests. I believe you will keep that oath as Lieutenant Governor.”
In addition to Gen. Vallely, the Connor campaign announced that Lt. Michael E. Thornton, a Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient for his gallantry in Vietnam had also joined “Bill’s Brigade”, the Connor Military/Veterans Coalition.
Bill’s Brigade also added Clare Lopez, a retired CIA Operations Officer.
The campaign also announced the endorsements and support of two key Upstate business leaders: Dean Anderson and Jerry Dempsey.
“I am proud to add these fine military and business leaders to our campaign, and pleased to be leading in these polls,” Connor said. “The people of South Carolina understand the need for a political outsider who is qualified for the job. Our support among the veterans community is particularly gratifying. With eleven weeks to go in this campaign, I look forward to continuing to get the message out that more government is not the answer – freedom is the answer.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Clare Lopez, conservative, Dean Anderson, endorsements, Jerry Dempsey, Lieutenant Governor, Medal of Honor, Michael Thornton, Paul Vallely, South Carolina, South Carolina Election, south carolina lieutenant governor, veteran
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
A day after he filed for office, Bill Connor, the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor, announced four more endorsements.
Henry Jordan, the former President of the South Carolina Policy Council who ran for Lt. Governor in 2006, has endorsed Bill Connor.
“I believe Bill Connor is the only true conservative in the race for Lt. Governor,” Jordan said. “He has the experience to get the job done and a proven dedication to our state and our nation. I am confident that he will stand up for our conservative values in that position, and I am proud to support his candidacy.”
The Connor campaign also announced today that Kay McLanahan, the state’s first female SLED agent, had joined the Law Enforcement Professionals for Connor coalition.
Also, the campaign announced that General John Shuler, the Deputy Adjutant General and General Nelson Lacy, Commander of the State Guard had joined “Bill’s Brigade”, the Connor Military/Veterans Coalition.
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Adjutant General, Afghanistan, conservative, endorsements, family, Henry Jordan, law enforcement, liberty, Lieutenant Governor, National Guard, Policy council, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, veteran
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Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Surrounded by supporters from across South Carolina, Bill Connor today filed the paperwork with the South Carolina Republican Party necessary to be on the June 8 ballot. In doing so, Bill Connor becomes the first post-9/11 combat veteran to file for statewide office in South Carolina, in addition to being the first Lt. Governor candidate to qualify for the ballot.
“In generations past, many of our leaders have been proven on the battlefield before achieving political leadership,” Connor said. “From the Revolution through the Korean War, veterans played an integral role in our political leadership. It is truly an honor to be the first of what I expect will be a new wave of conservative post-9/11 veterans running for office in South Carolina.
“Those of us who served in Iraq and Afghanistan understand what it’s like to help build countries and economies from the ground up. I hope to use my unique life experiences and core conservative ideas to help South Carolina companies bring jobs to our state.”
“As a political outsider who has never run for office, I am very pleased with the broad statewide support for our campaign,” Connor continued. “I look forward to continuing vigorous debates on the issues facing our state during these closing twelve weeks of the campaign.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce and file for South Carolina statewide office. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School.
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Tags: Afghanistan, conservative, Iraq, Lieutenant Governor, pro-life, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, Tea Party, veteran
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Monday, February 8th, 2010
In another sign of building momentum, the Bill Connor campaign today announced that Marine Major General and Medal of Honor recipient James Livingston had endorsed the campaign.
“As a Marine who led men into battle in Vietnam, I understand the challenge of combat leadership,” said General Livingston. “Combat leadership is forged in the toughest crucible known to man. As an Infantry Lt. Colonel, Bill was the senior US advisor to Afghan forces in Helmand fighting the Taliban insurgency. Now, Bill is the first post-9/11 combat veteran to announce for statewide office. I am so proud to endorse Bill’s candidacy for Lieutenant Governor.”
“I am proud to have the support of a Medal of Honor recipient like Jim Livingston,” Bill Connor said. “It means so much to our campaign to have leading veteran voices like General Livingston supporting us. General Livingston has been a great voice for the economic benefits of attracting retirees to our state. He points out that the average retiree household moving to South Carolina with pension and retirement income brings an average of three to four jobs. I look forward to working with General Livingston as head of the Office on Aging to make our state a retiree haven, allowing South Carolina businesses to create new jobs.”
Bill Connor is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves who received the Bronze Star for his service in combat as the senior American advisor in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. In addition to his Reserve duties, Bill serves as the Chairman of the Board of Orangeburg Christian Academy. Bill is a graduate of the Citadel and USC Law School. Bill lives in Orangeburg with Susan, his wife of 18 years, and their three children Peyton, Brenna, and Will. They attend Christ Church of the Carolinas in Columbia.
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Tags: Afghanistan, conservative, endorsements, James Livingston, Lieutenant Governor, Medal of Honor, Ranger, retiree, South Carolina, south carolina lieutenant governor, USMC, veteran
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