Four South Carolina counties presented their arguments about the 2012 first-in-the-South primary to the South Carolina Supreme Court on Monday, stating that they had no obligation to cover the costs or to conduct the election.
The four counties — Beaufort, Chester, Greenville and Spartanburg — filed suit despite a promise that the Republican Party would pay “all legitimate expenses,” associated with the primary. Some county leaders said they were unsure about the commitment and wanted to be more involved in the decision-making process.
Joel Collins, the lawyer for the counties, said the South Carolina law only required that the 2008 Presidential Primary be held, and that budget provisos made by the General Assembly during 2011 did not constitute a legal mandate.
“This is a lawsuit brought by the taxpaying citizens of Beaufort, Chester, Spartanburg and Greenville counties who do not believe it falls upon them to conduct and pay for any presidential preference primary,” Collins said.
Full Article: Counties Argue Primary Case Against State, GOP at S.C. Supreme Court – West Ashley, SC Patch.