South-Carolina

Hollywood SC mayor sued for using town Facebook page to endorse brother

Published

9 months ago

April 20, 2024

Hollywood SC mayor sued for using town Facebook page to endorse brother

HOLLYWOOD — The mayor here is being sued by a Republican candidate for her old Statehouse seat after she allegedly used the town’s Facebook page to endorse her brother for the office.

In a lawsuit filed in state court in Charleston, James Teeple — a Republican candidate for House District 116 — claims Hollywood Mayor Chardale Murray used the town’s official Facebook page on several occasions to promote her brother, Hollywood-based pastor and Democratic Statehouse candidate Charlie Murray Jr.

In a pair of since-deleted posts on the Hollywood Facebook page, the town appeared to be explicitly boosting Murray Jr.’s campaign, including by featuring an ABC News 4 story announcing his bid for the Charleston-area seat.

The district stretches from just outside West Ashley into the Ravenel area and south toward Edisto Beach.

After Teeple’s campaign issued a complaint, the town took down the post. But a little more than a week later, on March 20, the town posted a series of photos of Murray attending her brother’s campaign launch, which explicitly noted Murray Jr. was the brother of the sitting mayor.

Chardale and Charlie Murray Content — A Facebook post by the town of Hollywood showing Mayor Chardale Murray at the campaign launch event of her brother, Democratic candidate Charlie Murray Jr.
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Teeple claims in the lawsuit the posts were intentionally made to help Murray Jr.’s campaign. Teeple charges the act is a violation of Section 8-13-1346 of the South Carolina Ethics Code, which stipulates an individual “may not use or authorize the use of public funds, property, or time to influence the outcome of an election.”

“It has absolutely tipped the scales in this election,” Teeple said in an interview with The Post and Courier. “I’m gonna have to spend more dollars, more time and more effort to try to combat the illegal activity of the Murrays. That is undisputed fact.”

Teeple is asking for a public apology, the reimbursement of the cost of his attorneys fees, a prohibition on the town making any political posts on social media, and for both Chardale Murray and Charles Murray Jr. to be “barred from office for 15 years, per the statute.”

Sources with Murray Jr.’s campaign, however, claim there is nothing to try them on, and are considering a countersuit against Teeple and his attorney, William Koatesworth Swope, who earned public reprimands from the South Carolina Supreme Court for violations of the South Carolina rules of professional conduct in 2002 and 2012.

“Obviously, this is ridiculous,” Aaron White, Murray Jr.’s campaign manager, wrote in a statement. “Rev. Murray has no control over what any of his supporters post on Facebook. Mr. Teeple, who is a far-right wing extremist, and his attorney, who has previously earned a reprimand from the SC Supreme Court, are using the legal system to create a false political narrative. Rev. Murray is a respected member of this community, and the voters here will not be fooled by these shameless shenanigans.”

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Emailed messages to Murray’s assistant and the Hollywood town attorney’s office were not immediately returned.

Teeple said he has also reported the offending posts to the South Carolina Ethics Commission, which declined to confirm or deny an investigation in emails with The Post and Courier.

The race for the 116th District is expected to be one of the most competitive of the 2024 elections.

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Murray, who was elected to the seat by fewer than two points in the 2020 elections, lost her seat by a similarly small margin just two years later in her re-election bid against Johns Island Republican Matt Leber, who is vacating the seat to run for the South Carolina Senate.

After district lines were redrawn following the 2020 U.S. Census, the seat is still essentially a toss-up, though the Democratic vote share in the 2020 elections currently outweighs Republicans by a three-point margin, according to state redistricting data.

But in a presidential election year, every vote counts — particularly for a candidate who already faces a slight disadvantage. As of April, Murray Jr.’s campaign had outraised Teeple by several thousand dollars, fueled by an infusion of $30,000 of his own money, according to campaign finance reports.

Teeple said he just wants a level playing field.

“I want nothing monetary,” said Teeple. “I’m just about making it a fair election. There’s going to be people that may not show up to vote now, that think it won’t matter in that area. And that absolutely goes back to voter suppression through their illegal use of their office. It just blows my mind that would happen.”

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South-Carolina

Capitals re-assign forward prospect Zac Funk to ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Published

6 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Press Room

Capitals re-assign forward prospect Zac Funk to ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Washington Capitals forward prospect Zac Funk was re-assigned to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays on Tuesday.

Funk, who began the 2024-25 season in the AHL, hasn’t suited up in a game with the Hershey Bears since December 22 and was without a point in his last five appearances.

Funk, playing in his rookie season professionally, was scratched in Hershey’s first seven games of the year before carving out a regular spot in the lineup in November and December. The 21-year-old winger played in 13 games and scored his first AHL goal and registered his first AHL point on November 16 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Funk registered only one other point, an assist, on November 30 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before eventually being subbed out of the lineup.

“Every player has to show us as an organization that you are gonna earn a spot on this team,” Todd Nelson said earlier in the season. “We’re the Hershey Bears. You have to earn your spot here. It’s just the way it is. We have to let the chips fall as they may.”

Funk will join fellow Capitals forward prospect Alexander Suzdalev in the ECHL. Suzdalev, who was sent to the Stingrays on October 31, has 18 points (7g, 11a) in his first 19 games with South Carolina.

Funk is in the Capitals organization after leading the entire CHL in goals during his final season in junior hockey. Funk scored 67 goals as he played on the same line with Capitals’ 2024 first-round pick Terik Parascak with the Prince George Cougars.

Funk signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals on March 1.

Here’s the press release from the Hershey Bears:

ZAC FUNK RE-ASSIGNED TO SOUTH CAROLINA

Rookie has three points in 13 games with Hershey

(Hershey, PA–Jan. 7, 2025) – The Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League affiliate of the Hershey Bears, announced today that the club has re-assigned forward Zac Funk to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. The announcement was made by Washington senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick.
Funk, 21, has skated in 13 games with Hershey this season, posting three points (1g, 2a). He tallied his first career AHL points on Nov. 16 at Lehigh Valley, scoring a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win.
He recorded 123 points (67g, 56a) in 68 games with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season. Funk led the WHL in goals, power-play goals (31), plus/minus (+56) and ranked second in points and fourth in shots (323). He had eight hat tricks while serving as an alternate captain for Prince George, and he was named a finalist for WHL Player of the Year. In the playoffs, Funk posted 18 points (8g, 10a) in 15 games with the Cougars.
Funk was signed by the Capitals on March 1, 2024 to a three-year, entry-level contract.

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South-Carolina

BREAKING: Utah State Star Transfer RB Rahsul Faison Commits to South Carolina

Published

14 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

BREAKING: Utah State Star Transfer RB Rahsul Faison Commits to South Carolina

The South Carolina Gamecocks have landed one of the top available players in the transfer portal. Utah State running back Rahsul Faison, a standout performer this past season, has committed to join the program, according to On3Sports.

Faison, standing at 6-foot and weighing 200 pounds, delivered an impressive 2024 season at Utah State. The dynamic ball carrier totaled 198 rushing attempts, amassing 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns. His consistent production and physical presence made him a highly coveted name in the transfer market.

South Carolina’s addition of Faison is significant as the team continues to bolster its backfield depth. With his ability to break tackles and produce big plays, Faison could become an immediate impact player for the Gamecocks in the SEC.

This move also reflects the Gamecocks’ aggressive approach to the transfer portal under head coach Shane Beamer, who has consistently sought to bring in experienced talent to complement the team’s young roster.

Stay tuned for more updates as South Carolina builds momentum heading into the 2025 season.

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South-Carolina

McMaster announces new acting director of DSS

Published

22 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

McMaster announces new acting director of DSS

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Governor Henry McMaster announced Thursday that the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) officially has new leadership.

Tony Catone, who previously served as General Counsel at DSS, has been named Acting State Director of the agency until a new permanent director is appointed by McMaster and confirmed by the Senate.

Catone has served as a member of the department’s leadership team for 10 years, according to the Office of the Governor.

“As Acting State Director, our top priority for our agency will be to continue the positive reform trajectory we have forged under Director Michael Leach’s outstanding leadership,” said Catone. “His energy and deep commitment will be sorely missed.”

Catone said he intends to work on “large-scale reform efforts” for South Carolina’s foster care system as well as strengthening the agency’s Adult Protective Services. He also said he wants to continue providing support for households in need of food and improve child care affordability.

Prior to Catone, DSS was led by Michael Leach, who announced his resignation in October. Leach led DSS for over five and a half years, maneuvering the state agency through multiple hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s exhausting, and I want to spend more time present with my family, and so it’s time to go,” Leach said in an interview.

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