As you can see from the mailer above, Representative B.R. Skelton’s reelection campaign in SC House District 3 asserts that “special interest groups and lobbyists have a monopoly on the Trey Whitehurst campaign.”
It adds that “72.3% of Trey Whitehurst’s donations have come from special interests” and insinuates that Whitehurst is anti-education.
Aside from the fact that it is illegal to solicit or accept contributions from lobbyists, let’s take a look at the facts and compare the two candidates’ contributions.
B. R. Skelton (Incumbent)
- Total Raised $19,124.08
- Total Raised By Individual Donors $1,875
- Total Raised By PACs and other Special Interests $17,249.08
- Percentage of Money Raised from PACs and other Special Interests 90%
- Percentage of Money Raised from Individuals 10%
Trey Whitehurst (Challenger)
- Total Raised $24,111.41
- Total Raised By Individual Donors $18,711.41
- PAC Total: $1,000 Club For Growth
- Businesses:$4,400
- Percentage of Money Raised from PACs and other Special Interests 10%
- Percentage of Money Raised from Individuals 90%
- Percentage of Individuals Donating from SC 84%
(Source: South Carolina Ethics Commission Public Reporting)
So, to recap:
- Donations Supporting Representative Skelton from PACs and Special Interests = 90%
- Donations Supporting Trey Whitehurst from PACs and Special Interests = 10%
That’s the truth.
