The following letter was sent Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Only two responses to date have occurred, and are provided after the letter.
“Dear Elected Official,
According to the Aiken Standard and an osbonformayor.comnews release, you were one of twenty “conservative leaders” who officially endorsed Rick Osbon for Mayor of Aiken on August 15, 2023.
On August 22nd, Mr. Osbon’s bid for re-election ended when he lost the Republican Primary runoff election to Aiken resident and businesswoman Teddy Milner, 2135 to 2121, a 14-vote differential. As a result, Ms. Milner is the Republican nominee for the Mayor of Aiken and the only candidate on the November 7th general election ballot.
Four questions pertaining to this upcoming general election are:
1. Have you endorsed Ms. Milner (R) for Mayor of Aiken? If there is no formal endorsement to date, do you support Ms. Milner’s candidacy for Mayor?
2. If not, will you openly support a write-in candidate who chose not to participate in the Republican primary, if one emerges?
3. If you are a City of Aiken resident, do you intend to vote for Ms. Milner (R) for Mayor of Aiken?
4. Would you vote for any write-in candidate who does not announce their candidacy and/or who does not debate local issues in a public forum?
Thank you for any responses.”
Donald Moniak
Freelance writer and researcher
PO BOX 112, Vaucluse, SC 29850
- From State Senator Tom Young, Jr, SC Senate District 24, October 24, 2023:
“Don: I have not heard of any candidate other than Teddy Milner. After she won the primary, I congratulated her and offered to help her as Mayor as I do with all other elected mayors in and around the district that I represent.”
2. From Aiken Republican Club President K.T. Ruthven, who was also asked, “Are you intending to announce a write-in candidacy for the November 7th General Election for Mayor of Aiken?”
“I don’t know where the rumor came from. I have no interest in being a write in candidate. As President of the Aiken Republican Club, I will support the Republican candidate.”