Deford, Moore’s strategist talk issues as quest for Mace’s 1st District seat progresses
By Mike McCombs
The Island News
PORT ROYAL – When Indivisible Beaufort, Families Against Book Bans, Lowcountry Pride and League of Women Voters of Beaufort organized their Meet and Greet Forum for candidates running for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District seat, the idea was to hold an event that would welcome representatives from more than one party.
Unfortunately, they barely got more than one candidate.
But a healthy crowd showed up, despite the rain, Wednesday evening, April 10 at Shellring Ale works to hear Democrat Mac Deford and Gillian Bergeron, a campaign strategist for Democrat Michael B. Moore, talk about the issues in an open setting.
“I think it was very unfortunate,” Mary Foster of Families Against Book Bans said.
All registered candidates for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District seat were invited to attend the forum and share their platforms with the community. Foster said Rep. Nancy Mace’s staff never responded after initial contact from organizers, not even to decline their invitation.
“After our first exchange, … they never told us yes or no. We never got a response after that. I think she missed an opportunity to speak to her constituents and hear how some feel about the issues.”
Republican Catherine Templeton, like Moore, was a late scratch, though Moore sent Bergeron with answers to the forum questions. Republican Bill Young had a conflict and could not attend.
“We were disappointed,” Foster said, specifically of Templeton’s withdrawal. “We really wanted a bipartisan event.”
Deford and Bergeron didn’t let the lack of candidates sap their energy, and they and the crowd enthusiastically endured a rain delay and eventual move indoors of the forum, moderated by Col. Dick Geier, (U.S. Army, ret.) Vice Chairman of the Beaufort County Board of Education.
Among his priorities, Deford listed protecting a woman’s right to choose, fostering a more inclusive economy, and supporting public education. He touted his exposure to working in the backrooms of local government in his past experience as the attorney for the towns of Mount Pleasant and Hilton Head Island.
Moore’s priorities, as read by Bergeron, are to protect a woman’s right to choose, address critical infrastructure needs in the district, look for affordable housing solutions, and properly fund public education. He touted his business experience, making deals and getting results.
“Government is supposed to make families’ lives better, not worse,” Bergeron read from Moore’s script, pertaining to health care.
Deford said Congress needs to expand the Affordable Care Act, not repeal it. And he believes we should change how we negotiate prescription drug prices in this country.
Moore emphasized a forward approach to climate policy.
“Government inaction is no longer an option,” Bergeron read. “We owe it to our children and grandchildren to have a proactive climate policy.”
Deford believes whoever holds the office should work for change, not just in the House of Representatives, but with officials in Columbia, as well.
“We need a representative that’s going to use the weight of the office to get things done even when things seem so dark and gloomy,” he said.
As the candidates wrapped up, both said turnout – of women and Black voters – and support from moderate GOP voters would be key to any victory in the district.
“We need women to vote,” Bergeron emphasized, going off script from Moore’s answers, “and we’re going to because we’re pissed. We’re having our rights stripped from us.”
“We need crossover support,” Deford said. “We can’t win without it.”
In closing, Deford summed up both candidates’ positions for the evening.
“We can’t wait on a second or third Nancy Mace term when she has done absolutely nothing for the Lowcountry.”
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
