Beaufort County GOP to host virtual candidate forums for upcoming primaries. How to watch
The Republican candidates in one race for the S.C. House of Representatives will square off in a public forum Wednesday evening before the June 9 Republican primary. The forum for the seat representing Hilton Head Island, however, will only feature one of the candidates.
The two public forums will be hosted by the Beaufort County Republican Party and aired live on the party’s Facebook page.
S.C. House of Representatives District 118 candidates Mike Covert and Bill Herbkersman will square off from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. on June 3.
S.C. House of Representatives District 123 incumbent Jeff Bradley will do a solo public forum from 7:15 to 8 p.m. on June 3.
Last week, Phil Hartman, Bradley’s primary challenger, announced he would not attend the forum, alleging the Beaufort County GOP is biased against him and favors the incumbent.
Kevin Hennelly, the party’s interim chair, refuted Hartman’s allegations calling them “almost laughable.”
Radio debate?
Two weeks ago, TalkOne Radio, a Bluffton-based online political talk radio station, announced that it would host a live debate between statehouse candidates Covert and Herbkersman on May 27.
However, when called for comment, Herbkersman said he would not participate in the debate because the Beaufort County Republican Party was not moderating. He also said the station posted one of Covert’s political advertisements on its Facebook page, but didn’t publish any of Herbkersman’s ads.
Alan Flowers, the station’s executive producer and host, said he inadvertently reposted the Covert ad on the radio station’s Facebook page.
The Covert advertisement on TalkOne Radio’s Facebook page has since been deleted.
“There were so many details [in the debate] that we couldn’t agree on that we had to cancel,” Flowers said. “We wish both candidates all the best in the world, and we look forward to the Republican forum.”
Covert said he would like to participate in the debate, but did not want the Beaufort County Republican Party to moderate it because its interim chairperson, Kevin Hennelly, donated $125 to Herbkersman’s campaign last November.
“It’s unfortunate that the voters of this district won’t be able to hear the truth and hear from the people that represent them,” Covert said.
He said any perceived bias against Herbkersman by the radio station is “extremely far fetched.”
“Knowing the reputation of TalkOne Radio, they would be equitable to both of us,” he said. “If those folks want to have me on, I’m available. I have made a career of being accessible. I am the most accessible council person there is, and I know that is not the case for Bill in the statehouse.”
In response, Herbkersman cited the “thousands of people endorsing” his campaign as proof that he is accessible.
“We are accessible. We have proven results,” he said. “We’ve got our thumb on the heartbeat of Beaufort and Jasper counties. Our voters are looking for someone who’s going to stick to it. I’m not going to quit.”
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 2:22 PM.
