In a recent article in “The Herald Independent” about the Fairfield County Democratic Party Convention, I was saddened, but not surprised, to read that Democratic Representative John Richard C. King said, “The Republican Party does not care about poor people and African-Americans.” This continues the Democrats’ pattern of not telling the truth. We do care about all people, including the poor and African-Americans. Every year, I, Chairman of the Fairfield County Republican Party, use a week of vacation to rehab homes in the underprivileged areas in Fairfield County. Each time I have done so, the family happened to be African-American. This is an example of Republicans helping poor people.

More than a year ago I wrote a letter to the editor in which I invited all members of Fairfield County who are conservative to join the Fairfield County Republican Party, regardless of their race, gender or religion. Out of this invitation, I received a call from an African-American who later joined our organization. In 2011 this man, William Gray, informed me that he planned to run for S.C. House 41 as a Republican. The Fairfield County Republican Party embraced Mr. Gray and is supporting him in his effort to make history in Fairfield County.

Last month a group of seven members of the Fairfield, Chester and York county Republican Parties, men and women, white and African-American, attended the Fairfield County NAACP Annual Fundraiser. Although we did not agree with everything that was said, we did attend to reach out to the African-American community. When I reach out to the African-American community in Fairfield County, I am told that Republicans and African-Americans share many values. Republicans believe in equal opportunity for all, that marriage is between a man and a woman, the unborn child has the right to live, that we cannot spend more money than we make, lower taxes means more money in your pocket, parents know the education needs of their children better than the government does, therefore we support School Choice, we also support the right to bear arms.

The Democratic platform is for gay marriage, for killing unborn babies, and for higher taxes that will destroy job development. Fairfield County residents, is this the kind of Democrat that you are? If you are a conservative, join the Fairfield County Republican Party at our next meeting. We meet at Christ Central Community Center located at 235 S. Congress St. in downtown Winnsboro on the third Monday of each month.

Kevin Thomas

Chairman, Fairfield County GOP