Politics & Government

Candidate: Eligibility Hearing Was 'Politically Motivated'

Jim Lee unanimously wins hearing on his residency.

UPDATED 11:20 p.m.

Sources have confirmed that Jim Lee has won his residency hearing and will be on the ballot for the June 12 primary. The Executive Commitee found unananimously in Lee's favor.

The protest was filed by Todd Kincannon on behalf of his father, Jim. "Jim Kincannon is my dad, and he lives in Senate District 8, unlike Jim Lee," said the younger Kincannon. "And you can quote me on that."

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The hearing featured arguments from Kincannon and Lee's lawyer Stephen Brown. 

Kincannon emphasized that the protest was not personal, but based on fears that the seat could be lost to a Democrat in the event it was determined later on that Lee does not live in District 8. "If the Republican Party nominates Mr. Lee, a Democrat will automatically become the state Senator from that district," Kincannon said.

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But Brown said the protest was strictly a political ploy on behalf of Sen. David Thomas, the incumbent. "David Thomas has been successful in having the line drawn around the home where Jim Lee had lived in District 8 for 15, 16, 17 years, so he is no longer in Senate District 8. That part is true."

"Gerrymandered out of his district, Lee picked up his family and moved in to an apartment back in the newly redrawn District 8 -- back to the district he lived in when he filed. He went to the voter registration office and changed where he's registered to vote, he changed it with the DMV. He even changed the tax on his home, so instead of being taxed at four percent, the owner-occupied tax .. he changed it to six percent, non owner-occupied tax -- the higher tax. He did all of that -- guess what? -- before he filed."

Speaking to Patch after the hearing, Lee minced few words. "This was purely politically motivated. There wasn't any evidence presented. They cared so much about it, even the person who brought the protest didn't show up. So it was purely politically motivated and designed to take people's attention and resources away from running this campaign. I can only assume that someone who is associated with the 8th District race has seen some polls and is not happy with the outcome of those polls and tried to everything they can to derail our candidacy."

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Jim Lee, a candidate for the District 8 State Senate seat, will have a hearing this evening to determine if he meets the residency requirements for the office he is seeking.

Lee was informed by e-mail on Friday evening that a protest had been filed as to whether or not he lives within the borders of District 8. His case will be heard by the 46-member South Carolina GOP Executive Committee who will deliver a verdict after hearing from counsel representing Lee and the person or group that filed the protest.

Lee is one of four contenders for the seat currently held Sen. David Thomas.

Four other hearings will take place in addition to Lee's. They involve:

  • House District 56 (Dennis DiSabato, Jr. – Horry County)
  • Aiken County Auditor (Jason Goings)
  • Senate District 25 (John Pettigrew, Jr. – Edgefield County)
  • Senate District 23 (Katrina Shealy – Lexington County)

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