KENNEY BOONE’S RACE COULD GET UGLY …
Florence County, S.C. sheriff Kenney Boone officially filed for reelection this week – setting off what could be one of the nastiest county-wide elections in Palmetto political history.
“I would like to thank my family, friends, and the men and women of the Florence county sheriff’s office for their continued support,” Boone said in making his announcement. “All of these people help me to better serve and protect the citizens of Florence county. Without a doubt, I am truly blessed to have such caring and supportive people in my life. It’s because of them and my desire to make the FCSO even greater, that I look forward to serving as your sheriff for many years to come.”
“Blessed,” “family” … etc. Sounds like an overt appeal to social conservatives, if you ask us.
Boone has come under fire in recent months – first for leaving the state during last fall’s “Floodmaggedon” rainstorm and more recently for his office’s heavy-handed tactics in pursuing a helicopter that belonged to another local government. Boone is also reportedly at the heart of a “major local soap opera” that almost prompted him not to seek reelection.
What’s that all about?
“You’ll see,” one source ominously told us …
Running against Boone? Jody Lynch, a 20-year law enforcement veteran who will campaign as a Democrat – a.k.a. Boone’s former party.
“I’m a fighter for those who can’t fight for themselves,” Lynch told us.
Lynch told us she’s heard lots of “talk” in the community regarding various rumors about Boone, but that her campaign isn’t going to make the sheriff’s personal life part of its focus.
“I’ve been told by strong Republicans that if Kenney was working hard for the people it wouldn’t matter about his political affiliation since he started out on the Democratic ticket in the beginning and then jumped parties,” she told us.
Lynch says she hopes Boone will agree to a series of debates so that the public can see the differences between the two of them on the issues.
Florence County is comprised of roughly 52 percent “Republicans” and 48 percent Democrats – although the county was almost evenly split in 2012 between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. In 2014, Nikki Haley narrowly edged Vincent Sheheen in Florence by fewer than 500 out of more than 35,000 votes cast.
First elected in 2004, Boone is an ally of powerful S.C. Senate president Hugh Leatherman – who is also facing a tough reelection fight in Florence County.
18 comments
“…Lynch told us she’s heard lots of “talk” in the community regarding various rumors about Boone, but that her campaign isn’t going to focus on the sheriff’s personal life…
Nope, she won’t focus on his personal life, she’ll just occasionally drop innuendo so Will and the MSM can focus on his personal life…
So, as a point of curiosity, what did she do during her 20 years in law engorcement? Not knocking her, just asking.
As with most jurisdictions plagued with long-term Sheriffs, FC is probably due for a change by now.
Just to make the convo a lot shorter, can you think of a good exemplary SC Sheriff? Underwood in Chester is the only one I have ever heard positive things about. He seems to be a professional, which is upsetting the the good ole boy system there.
Herman Young, former Sheriff of Fairfield County, seemed to be a first class act, even after serving multiple terms. I don’t know of anything bad about him. Sadly, health issues forced his retirement a year or two ago.
Sadly, that office seems to draw as many crooks as the jails they run do, in most cases.
I know the website is buggy as Hell today but did you catch the Letter from the guy about RCSO?
Ok, so it’s not just me then?
Yes I did,Taz. The writer sounds legit and if so, I hope there is some severe penalty for that deputy. If the second one is a newby, he might just deserve a reprimand and remedial training.
If not true, I hope this is brought out, also.
Link, please?
https://www.fitsnews.com/2016/03/15/letter-scdot-employee-involved-in-attack-on-elderly-veteran/
Thanks!
Underwood is one of the best, ever.
PLEASE. JUST PLEASE!!!
Sheriff Washington had to have his criminal record expunged in order to accept his position as US Marshal.
Jim Clyburn caught tons of crap for nominating Washington.
You must know something the rest of us never saw. Care to share? This is what I know: http://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_f96d4460-e13a-5224-811a-a902bc45b635.html
Multiple bad checks.
That just seems highly unlikely to me. I’d have to see some kind of report before I took it as fact.
Kenney’s campaign slogan: Fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain. His politics have no association with morality. I’m thinking he *thought* he’d be able to try for Leatherman’s seat one day, but he’s as much a pawn of that order as those who work for him are of his. Drinking the kool-aid became a metaphor for a reason, and we all know why. Lots of folks have drunk Kenney’s batch, but that time is passing. We only have to read the news to see his failures, and guess at it’s cost to the tax payers. Time to say “Buh-Bye, Boone” at the ballot box on election day.
The Party affiliation in South Carolina and probably throughout America does not mean a thing any longer. Most of those in the State House in Columbia are Republicans in name only.The Party affiliation is only for money and looks. Most have no real intestinal fortitude to do what is needed and right any longer.America has fallen apart.
It’s generally accepted as fact within the law enforcement community that the shadiest sheriff in South Carolina is Ricky Chastain of Laurens County.
You know that any worthless POS that will intentionally end the life of their own child, for purely political purposes, really should not be in a position of public trust.
Chastain’s just not honest. Period.
I’ve instructed at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. One of the saddest days there was when a delegation of female employees of the Laurens County Sheriff met with me. They all said that they are constantly groped and propositioned by Chastain.
I felt really bad for them, but there was nothing that I could do, other than refer them to an attorney.