By FITSNews || Charleston, S.C. attorney Ashley Cooper is finally taking the plunge.
Pegged by numerous Palmetto political insiders as a potential candidate during previous election cycles, the Lowcountry Democrat has finally decided to drop the “potential” from that label and mount a campaign for the S.C. Lt. Governor’s office.
A former staffer to U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, Cooper becomes the first announced candidate for Lt. Governor on the democratic side of the aisle.
Three Republicans – Florence County Councilman Ken Ard, Orangeburg attorney (and Afghan war veteran) Bill Connor and S.C. Rep. Tim Scott – are running on the Republican side. Filing for statewide offices and legislative seats closes in March.
Expect Cooper to run as an outsider
Cooper’s bid will be managed by up-and-coming young Democratic consultant LachlanMcIntosh, who is also running the gubernatorial bid of Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod.
WEB EXTRA
By Todd January 19, 2010 at 7:06 pm
What? Dwight Drake, Nelson Motors, for governor. Ashley Cooper, Nelson Motors for Lt. Gov., They already own Jean Toal whose number 1 law clerk if Sic Willie wet dream Stephanie Nye – former Nelson Motors. Steve Morrison, Nelson Motors, running for mayor of Columbia. William Hubbard, Nelson Motors, USC trustee – albeit under fire by Chip McKinney, rightly so.
Oh yeah. I feel good about this pattern of conduct.
By SnakeMD January 19, 2010 at 7:45 pm
How can you take a guy seriously who has a double river name? The trouble with native Charlestonians is that they believe that the Ashley and the Cooper Rivers came together to form the Atlantic Ocean. His uncle, Congaree Broad is said to be running his campaign.
By Zach January 19, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Ashley Cooper was the pen name for Frank Gilbreath, Jr. who was the author of Cheaper by the Dozen. He retired from the Post and Courier probably before this Ashley Cooper was even born. This AC was probably born with the real Ashley Cooper was still writing for the P&C. What were this boy’s parents’ thinking?
By Liberty For Me January 19, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Running a Lt Gov seperate from the govenor is about the craziest idea anyone ever had.Please explain how this makes government more efficent?
By Larry January 19, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Seems like a longshot candidacy to me, but having met him in a work capacity I can say that he is a pretty sharp / likable guy.
As an unknown outside of Chas. / legal circles, his name is not helping him. (Sounds like a Fitsnews message board alias or some other kind of joke.)
Also, Todd – No one calls it Nelson Motors. That is lame.
By Martha Washington January 19, 2010 at 11:26 pm
I know a man named Merry.
There’s a geek named Lindsey.
I know a Charmin, too.
And a Winthrop.
Some kind of geechy-mamas are naming these boys.
By Todd January 20, 2010 at 4:50 am
Sorry Larry. I agree. That is kinda lame. Kinda ’90′s. My bad.
By Old Bike Dude January 20, 2010 at 8:06 am
I checked with Dick Armey’s wife, Vagina Coastguard, and they find nothing odd about the name.
Signed
Ed Isto
By go cocks January 20, 2010 at 8:43 am
Ok, really? We elected a President in this country named Barack Hussein Obama while we were at war in the Middle East – and that’s the best you guys can come up with? To make fun of his name? Come on! Ashely is a great guy (who’s first name is actually John) with a real vision for this state. Something we have been lacking for a WHILE NOW!! And for the record, he IS known outside of Charleston; he worked for Hollings in D.C. for a while and has lived in Greenville, Columbia & Charleston throughout his legal career. In recent years I have typically voted Republican, but I know Ashley personally and he is heads above the other candidates, in my opinion. TEAM COOP!!
By jimbo January 20, 2010 at 8:45 am
You know–if you just looked at the names you’d think South Carolina is doing a pretty good job of electing women to political office.
We’ve got a Lindsey (Graham), a Carroll (Campbell) and now an Ashley?
Now I’m going to have Johnny Cash’s ‘A Boy Named Sue’ running through my head all day.
By Silence Dogood January 20, 2010 at 8:51 am
Finally, a Fritz (not FITS) kind’a democrat running for state wide office in S.C. again. Ashley Cooper is a tremendous candidate, and the kind of person who can lead this state in a better direction – let’s hope some of the brainiac commenters above don’t write him off for such terrible sins as (gasp!) having a unique name.
By Weighing In January 20, 2010 at 10:53 am
I’ve had the opportunity to meet Mr. Cooper on several occasions and can say without any hesitation that this guy is truly one of the best people you will ever meet. He is genuine, not fake, he doesn’t blow smoke, just tells you what he thinks, but is interested as well in your opinion. He character is impeccable and unimpeachable and it’s just what SC needs, even if for Lt Gov. He truly cares about SC and wants to make a difference, and I believe the only reason he didn’t run for US Senate or Congress, is that he is committed to his wife and kids, and D.C. well is just not the place for a young family, and Mr. Cooper is more of a Hollings Democrat, a far cry from most of the national ones.
By Darth January 20, 2010 at 11:47 am
Geeez and Andy Brack was an outsider poser too…
By Nick January 20, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Plus Cooper has a HOT wife
By jed January 20, 2010 at 3:28 pm
..and he made a movie (but his wife’s not in it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1CBMG_ujAw
By BillyBob January 20, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Todd: Didn’t Nelson Mullins buy a governor and a couple Wilkins’ in there somewhere also? Riley? Phil Lader?
By Catherine January 20, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Jesus Christ. A Charlestonian named Ashley Cooper. That is so fucking gay, I can’t even stand it. Of course that also means he’ll be perfect for SC politics. One more douchebag can’t hurt, or so seems to be the conventional wisdom in this state.
By Catherine January 20, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Larry,
Lame or not, EVERYONE calls it Nelson Motors. Including me and I work there. Keep it real, man.
By Matt January 20, 2010 at 4:24 pm
It’s kind of hard to run as an “outsider” when you have a resume like Ashley’s: Nelson Mullins, SCANA lobbyist, legislative director for a U.S. Senator, tapped by Fritz to chair Chris Dodd’s presidential campaign in S.C. Not to mention the fact that “party insiders” have been trying to get this guy to run for something for a while.
By Cole Blease January 20, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Looks like another rich ass sLowcountry pretty boy like the McLeod fella. I do not think that they will do too good up in the red clay land where the votes are.
By Theresa Dillon January 20, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Go Ashley!! You are a great candidate and have our full support!
By Theresa Dillon January 20, 2010 at 7:22 pm
No, nothing like those shallow politicians. Ashley is the real thing, very in touch unlike the politicians who bluff their way through by claiming they are local “grass roots politicians”. I have known his family for many years and I can say Ashley will be a great asset to the Democratic party in SC.
By Philip January 20, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Has this guy ever held a job for more than three years? Does he know the Lt. Gov gig comes with a four year commitment?
By Ricky Loftin January 21, 2010 at 1:52 pm
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By Roy January 21, 2010 at 5:30 pm
WTF Ricky?
By The Colonel January 22, 2010 at 4:34 am
Roy – I think Ricky has been sampling his product…
Back in 1670s, there was a Lord Ashley Cooper who was one of the Lord’s Proprietors of the Carolinas – he was also the Earl of Shaftesbury. Interestingly, John Locke was his secretary. Seems to me he eventually had to flee England after committing treason.
Thus ending the complete history of all the Ashley Cooper’s involved in governing South Carolina. Another Charleston Lawyer we do not need – good guy or not.