CITY OF CHARLESTON DEMOCRATIC PARTY - GENERAL INFORMATION

The City of Charleston may be the only municipality in South
Carolina that still uses the partisan method of electing city
officials.  It therefore has its own City Democratic and
Republican Parties.  Candidates may also get on the ballot by
petition.  
 
The most basic level of organization in the City Democratic Party
is the precinct.  There are now about 100 precincts in the City
of Charleston.  At precinct meetings held during May, Democrats
elected precinct officers, Executive Committee members, and
delegates to the City Convention.  The precinct meetings are open
to all registered voters and represent democracy at its most
basic level.  Some precincts remain unorganized.  You can contact
the Chair to find out who is your precinct representative, or to
volunteer to build an organization in your precinct.  
 
The Executive Committee is the governing body for the City Party. 
During odd-numbered years, it usually meets on the third Thursday
of the month at 6:00 PM.  Special meetings may be called by the
Chair.  This year, the City and County Executive Committees have
been meeting jointly.  Although they are separate entities, they
work together very closely.  
 
This year's City Democratic Convention was held on June 13.  The
convention elected party officers for the next two years.  They
are:
 
     Harriet McBryde Johnson, Chair 74764.2523@compuserve.com
     Frances Tindall, Vice Chair
     Thomas Johnson, Secretary
     Bernard R Fielding, Treasurer
 
While the City Republican Party nominates its candidates at its
convention, the City Democratic Party opens the process to the
voters.  For all offices, filing is open to anyone who meets the
legal requirements of the office (e.g., registered voter,
residence).  If two or more people file for the same office, the
Party holds a primary election.  The Party bears the expense and
responsibility for the primary election, and certifies the winner
to the City Election Commission.  In 1993, we opened some 90 city
precincts for a primary election for Commissioner of Public
Works; this year, the only primary contest was in City Council
District 3.  
 
This year, the Mayor's office, half of City Council, and one seat
on the Commission of Public Works are open for election.  The
Democratic nominees are as follows:
 
        Joseph P. Riley, Jr. - Mayor; 
        Richard Hagerty - City Council District 1; 
        James Lewis, Jr. - City Council District 3; 
        Maurice Washington - City Council District 5; 
        Louis (Lou) Waring - City Council District 7; 
        W.L. Stephens, Jr. - City Council District 11; 
        Howard F. Burky - Commissioner of Public Works. 
 
Mr Waring and Mr Washington were both elected to City Council as
petition candidates and decided in June to join the City
Democratic Party.  
 
Historically, the main function of the City Party has been to
nominate candidates.  The present officers hope to expand the
Party's role in voter registration, education, and organization. 
As campaigns come and go, we would like to be a permanent
presence in the community's grass roots.