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.
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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.
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.”
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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.”
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.
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The race for the 116th District is expected to be one of the most competitive of the 2024 elections.
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.
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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.”
Around the GamecockScoop headquarters, we’re still all chasing publisher Caleb Alexander. Caleb leads all in the straight up picks and against the spread. Against the spread, Caleb is beating a lot of the experts. (Still need to remind everyone this for fun and not meant to be gambling advice).
Nationally, its a pretty quiet week before college football enters what conference realignment has left intact of rivalry week. There are still three top-25 matchups this weekend with a handful of other games that could impact the playoffs. It should be a good week for Gamecock fans too enjoy some college football with their feet up, assuming the Terriers play along.
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This week’s guest picker is another specialist, former walk-on Thomas Hooper. Hooper was a member of the Garnet and Black from 2004-2007. He was 3-for-3 in his career on extra points, adding PATs after some memorable Gamecock touchdowns. In 2004, he converted the point after following a 65-yard TroyWilliamson touchdown and a 57-yard Ko Simpson pick-6, both against UGA. Hooper then connected on an EXP after an 88-yard Bobby Wallace TD run against Middle Tennessee State in 2006. Hooper and his family live in greater Montgomery, AL area today.
#5 Indiana (10-0) +13.5 @ #2 Ohio State (9-1): 12:00 on FOX
The Buckeyes will be playing in their fifth-of-six straight noon kickoffs to end the 2024 regular season. Why is this game not in primetime? What happens to Indiana if Ohio State win this game by 24+ points? Do the Hoosiers still make the playoff with a paper-thin resume? They can’t play for the Big Ten title if they lose in the Shoe on Saturday. If Indiana wins they are in the Big Ten title game even if they somehow stumble to lowly Purdue. Ohio State gets in the Big Ten title game by winning out by beating Indiana and Michigan or by beating Indiana and having Penn State lose one of their final two games. Ohio State is 79-12-5 against Indiana all-time. Ronald Reagan was president the last time the Hoosiers beat Ohio State. (1988). OSU has won 29-in-a-row in this series.
#9 Ole Miss (8-2) -10.5 @ Florida (5-5): 12:00 on ABC
This is game the Rebels need to take seriously. Florida is playing much better football over the last month. They aren’t as good as Ole Miss but playing in the Swamp is always difficult. The Rebels are in a great spot at #9 in playoff rankings. If they take care of business against the Gators and next week verses rival Mississippi State, they are likely missing the SEC Championship Game and sitting at 10-2 waiting to see what Big Ten location they are traveling to play. Ole Miss path to Atlanta is unlikely: the Rebs needs to win out plus have Alabama lose one more game, Vanderbilt beat Tennessee, and Texas A&M lose out. That would give Texas the No. 1 seed and create only a two-way tie for second place between Georgia and Ole Miss in which the Rebels would get the No. 2 seed as a result of their head-to-head victory. If it’s a three-way tie for second with Georgia, Tennessee and Ole Miss, Georgia would get the nod.
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In case you were wondering: former Gamecock Pup Howard currently has 37 total tackles with one sack, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for Florida.
#13 SMU (9-1) -9.5 @ Virginia (5-5): 12:00 on ESPN2
Let’s take a peak at the ACC Championship scenarios for SMU:
Clemson, Miami and SMU are the only three teams still remaining.
Clemson finished its ACC schedule at 7-1 in league play, while both Miami (vs. Wake Forest, at Syracuse) and SMU (at Virginia, vs. California) each have two remaining conference games. If both the Hurricanes and Mustangs win out, they will face off in the ACC Championship. That’s also the case if SMU only drops one of its final two games. Clemson will be on the outside looking in with one exception if the following happens:
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Virginia beats SMU and Virginia Tech and Pitt beat Louisville. Due to the record of conference opponents: Clemson would get nod. I think.
Sam Houston (8-2) +6 @ Jacksonville State (7-3): 12:00 on CBSSN
The Conference USA schedule makers need to placed in charge of all college football scheduling. Why? There are four schools still left in the hunt for the CUSA title game and they all play each the final two weeks of the season. Western Kentucky and Liberty meet in VA this weekend and Sam Houston heads to Jacksonville State. Next weekend Jax St plays at WKU and Liberty goes to SHSU. Will it matter in terms of the playoff? No. Every team in the CUSA has at least two losses overall. Boise State, Tulane, Memphis, Army and Louisiana are all ahead of the winner of this game.
Charleston Southern (1-10) +33.5 @ Florida State (1-9): 1:30 streaming on ESPN+
No one on the planet imagined FSU vs CSU would be the Week 14 Toilet Bowl, but here we are.
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Mike Norvell has gone from King of the Hill to….whatever is at the bottom of the hill. The Seminoles have had an epic meltdown. At the end of 2023, FSU was huffing and puffing at the ACC and demanding a higher payout for the schools that won more games. That chatter has quickly quieted down, leaving only Clemson debating if they should still push for more than they deserve.
CSU is one of the worst programs in the FCS and doesn’t stand much of a chance to win this game. However, they have the opportunity to make one lasting impression during a televised matchup. This will be four straight seasons with a losing record for the Buccaneers.
#4 Penn State (9-1) -12 @ Minnesota (6-4): 3:30 on CBS
Penn State is in a great position right now despite their best win being over 7-3 Illinois. All they have to do is beat Minnesota and Maryland and they are not only in the playoff, but they get to host a first-round game. They aren’t going to the Big Ten title game unless Ohio State beats Indiana and loses to Michigan and the Nittany Lions win out. Penn State might be in the best position of any at-large team with a strength of schedule at #32. If Penn State loses to either Minnesota or Maryland – they shouldn’t receive a bid.
#14 BYU (9-1) +3.5 @ #21 Arizona State (8-2): 3:30 on ESPN
The Big XII still has nine schools mathematically alive for their conference title game but BYU and Arizona State, along with Colorado, all control their own destiny. (Upset alert -part II, Colorado is only a -2.5 road favorite against Kansas. Remember the Jayhawks just knocked off BYU last week). Iowa State can advance to the Big XII game if they win out and BYU and Colorado both lose another game. BYU secures their spot with a win plus a Utah win (Utah hosts Iowa State). Colorado secures their spot with a win and wins by both Utah and BYU. The Sun Devils have won three-in-a-row. BYU has looked sluggish in their last two games.
Wofford (5-6) +42.5 @ #18 South Carolina (7-3): 4:00 streaming on SEC+
Gone are the days of the dreaded Wofford triple-option and chop blocks the week before the Clemson game. South Carolina has played Wofford twice before the Palmetto Bowl, in 2012 and 2017. The Gamecocks are 1-1 against Clemson after playing the Terriers the week before. Basketball is heating up and the football regular season is winding down, check back at GamecockScoop daily for the best Gamecock coverage on Al Gore’s internet.
#19 Army (9-0) +14 vs. #6 Notre Dame (9-1) (Yankee Stadium): 7:00 on NBC
Notre Dame has played on two opponents home field this season. The last such occasion was September 14 at one-win Purdue. To be fair, Georgia Tech wanted to move their game to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to capitalize on a larger gate. As it stands now, the Irish are in the playoff as long as they don’t stumble to either Army or Southern Cal on the road. With a win in the Bronx, Army will leapfrog Boise State as the highest ranked Group of Five conference champion. Army is also already locked into the American title game and will play Tulane. The location of that game will be determined after Army hosts UTSA next weekend.
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#7 Alabama (8-2) -14 @ Oklahoma (5-5): 7:30 on ESPN
Alabama is probably going to the SEC Championship yet again if they win. They will be a multi-score favorite at home against Auburn next week. If the Tide win out they are 99% going to Atlanta. That number goes to 100% if Missouri beats Mississippi State this weekend and the Tide win their last two. Bama would win all multi-team tiebreakers due to conference opponent strength of record. Opposing the Tide is likely to be either Texas or Texas A&M, although watch out this weekend as the Aggies are only a -2.5 favorite against 4-6 Auburn. Vegas smells an upset. Brent Venables is going to get an early look at the portal with Bama and at LSU left on the Sooners schedule.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Omar Croskey scored 20 points as South Carolina State beat Alabama A&M 82-70 on Friday night.
Croskey went 7 of 12 from the field (6 for 9 from 3-point range) for the Bulldogs (3-3). Davion Everett scored 12 points while finishing 5 of 6 from the floor and added five rebounds.
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The Bulldogs (3-3) were led in scoring by Anthony Bryant and Chad Moodie with 16 points apiece. Lorenzo Downey had 14 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Sophia Boman and Sophia Romine scored in the second half to lift the Gophers to a 2-1 victory over South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA women’s soccer tournament on Friday in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Gophers (14-4-3) advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament for only the third time in program history and the first time since 2010. On Sunday, the Gophers will play the winner of North Carolina/Santa Clara, who played later Friday.
South Carolina, in the NCAA tournament for the 12th consecutive season, took a 1-0 lead on Katie Shea’s goal in the eighth minute.
Boman’s eighth goal of the season, coming on a penalty kick in the 56th minute, tied the match. Fellow graduate student Romine gave the Gophers the lead 13 minutes later, scoring on a shot from nearly 30 yards out on her fifth goal of 2024.
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In the Gophers’ 2-0 victory over South Dakota State in the first round on Nov. 15, Boman scored both goals in the second half, one on a penalty kick.
Gophers sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Martin made one save as the Gophers had an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal.
South Carolina defeated East Carolina 6-0 in the first round.
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