Published originally in SCNOW.com on May 4, 2010
By: Naeem McFadden – Marion Star & Mullins Enterprise Reporter
Marion – State Superintendent of Education and Democratic candidate for Governor Jim Rex arrived in Marion County Tuesday morning as part of statewide tour.
Rex’s “46 Counties in 46 Days” tour brought him to Horry, Marion, and Darlington counties on the day.
Rex made his second stop of the day in Marion for a walk downtown with former Marion School Dist. 1 board member and Francis Marion University Director of Community Health Programs (ARCH) Dr.
Paul DeMarco, talking to potential voters and listening to concerns. The day included lunch at O’Hara’s, operated by Mullins City Council woman Jo Sanders.
“I don’t think there’s a person running for governor that wouldn’t say education isn’t a top priority,” DeMarco said, adding that to get the state in order he’d like someone in office that cares and knows about education.
Rex said the tour is something that was done in his campaign in 2006. “I did more than 30 town hall meetings in my first two years in office,” Rex said. “This is sort of a refresher course for me, letting people ask me some questions and react to some of my ideas.”
Getting a sense of citizens concerns, Rex said the economy, jobs and education is a priority.
“But people are worried about other things, such as the image of the state and worried about cutting back on other essential services,” Rex said. “There a lot of things that have people troubled right now. I think they’re looking for a different type of politician and not a career politician.”
The day’s tour ended with a downtown walk in Darlington.