After this gets your attention, it leads me to something I heard while I was in line to vote during the 2008 Presidential election.

An older gentleman said, “If you don’t vote straight party Democrat, it’s a vote for McCain”.

I was shocked and blown away by this blatant falsehood. I have never voted straight party ticket in my life!

What has become a ritual in our family, my wife and I take our children with us to vote. We take them in the voter’s booth and explain to them who we vote for.

After we are finished and get our “I voted stickers”, we head to the car and we explain to them why we voted how we did.

I enjoy giving the civics lesson to them and hearing their questions that always start with, why?

Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone, but I voted for a Democrat before.

I voted for Grady Patterson for treasurer, I think it was 2004.

At that time I was in the Air National Guard and I knew his son who was in the Guard as well. I was not involved in politics and knew his son was a nice guy, so I assumed he was.

I don’t remember much of about that election, but I later realized that it is not the way to determine how you vote for someone. I have learned my lesson and now research each candidate on the ballot.

I vote for the person and have even endorsed Independent petition candidate for S.C. Senate District 23 Katrina Shealy from Lexington who is running against Republican Senator Jakie Knotts.

I am also considering endorsing other non-Republican candidates in other races throughout the state.

It’s OK in Fairfield County to Vote for President Barak Obama! (Did he say that?)

I’m not saying I will (Because I won’t!) or say you should (Because I don’t think you should.), because it does not matter.

The bottom line is President Obama will not win the state of South Carolina, although he will win Fairfield County.

Go ahead vote for the president if you feel you have too.

You can even vote for or against Mick Mulvaney for Congress (Although, I have had numerous Democrats tell me that they like him, because he is honest with the voters. Heck he has had two town halls in Fairfield County, two more than Congressman John Spratt had).

I will enthusiastically vote for Congressman Mulvaney.

What I would ask Fairfield Democrats to do is consider voting for the best candidate in the South Carolina House and Senate races along with the county council and school board races.

Don’t just hit straight party Democrat or Republican for that matter, take the time to look at each candidate and see who is better for the county?

The Democrat Party has been in charge of Fairfield County for….ever!

How is that working for you? Let’s have an honest conversation.

It has not worked for any of us. Why would anyone vote Democrat again in Fairfield County?

I have said several times that not all Republicans are right all of the time. Republicans like Jake Knotts need to go.

There are also a lot of Democrats in Fairfield County that need to go. Democrats in Fairfield County, vote for the President again if you like, but how can you vote Democrat in the South Carolina Senate or House again?

What has that done for you? You had two Democrat legislatures who voted to take away your representation with local legislation?

If Republicans had done that you would never vote for them again. Remember your Democrat legislators did that to you. Do you want them to try local legislation again?

Don’t forget and vote them out in November! I’ve given you something to ponder.

Had enough? Vote Republican! (At least for the South Carolina House 41- William Gray and South Carolina Senate 17- Bob Carrison).

Kevin Thomas is the Chairman of the Fairfield County Republican Party and Vice Chairman of the 5th Congressional District and can be reached at fairfieldcountygop@gmail.com