Officials to attend convention

Aiken City Council member, state senator will go to Democratic Party Convention in Los Angeles

Web posted May 10, 2000

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By Pat Willis
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN -- Two veteran Democratic Party officeholders from Aiken County have been elected delegates to the convention in Los Angeles in mid-August.

State Sen. Tommy Moore of Clearwater and Aiken City Councilwoman Lessie Price have pledged their support to Vice President Al Gore for president. Mr. Moore will go to the convention as an at-large delegate and as the state party's representative to the Democratic National Committee.

He succeeds Don Fowler, who represented the state party on the national level for more than two decades, most recently as National Democratic Party co-chairman along with Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut.

``Nobody can replace Don Fowler. He has served the party for over 40 years, but I think I can bring to the national party the perspective of 22 years in the legislative process and an understanding and appreciation of the value of a dollar and the responsibility of having to make a payroll as a small businessman,'' Mr. Moore said.

Describing himself as a moderate pragmatist, he said his positions on issues will not be dictated by the national party, and he will maintain his attention to state issues as a South Carolina senator.

Elected without opposition, he said he was encouraged to run by several state party officials, including Gov. Jim Hodges. His term begins the day after the convention.

Mrs. Price is committed to Mr. Gore because she said she believes he will continue the Clinton policies that have brought a record level of economic growth to the nation. In addition, she supports Mr. Gore's stand on educational issues, which she has been interested in since Richard Riley was in the state's governor's mansion. Mr. Riley, now secretary of education in Mr. Clinton's Cabinet, appointed Mrs. Price to the National School-to-Work Advisory Council.

Mrs. Price was first elected to Aiken City Council in 1987 and was the first woman in the city's history elected to an at-large seat on the council. She now serves as mayor pro-tempore.

Mr. Moore began his legislative career in 1978 when he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was elected to the state Senate in 1984, representing Aiken, Edgefield and McCormick counties.

Reach Pat Willis at (803) 279-6895.