By Jason Lesley
jlesley@gtowntimes.com [2]

Linda Ketner, a Democrat from Charleston, announced Thursday that she will challenge incumbent Henry Brown Jr. (R-Hanahan) for U.S. Congress, representing the First District.

Ketner toured the three counties comprising the First District -- Georgetown, Horry and Charleston -- and made stops in each to announce her candidacy.

She stopped at Louis's in Pawleys Island to have lunch with supporters.

"She reaches out ot everybody in the community," said Jamie Sanderson, chairman of the Georgetown County Democratic Party. "Linda represents the vast majority of people and will have a very good chance against Rep. Brown."

Ketner is the daughter of Ruth Hope, who lives in DeBordieu Colony, and Ralph Ketner of Salisbury, N.C., a co-founder of the Food Lion grocery chain.

Ketner has been an activist in the Charleston community for many years, working with the YWCA, the YMCA, the Mayors Council On Homelessness and Housing, the Center for Women, the Community Foundation, the school system, the Tri-County Hugo Relief committee, Charleston Interfaith Crisis Ministries, and the S.C. Housing Trust.

"My life is filled with people who have spent their lives giving back," she said.

Ketner first will face frequent candidate Ben Frasier of Wadmalaw Island in the Democratic primary on June 10. Brown has two primary challengers: Katherine Jenerette, a commissioned Army officer, and Paul V. Norris, a businessman.

Ketner opened her bid for office in Charleston on Thursday morning.

"We're at a crossroads here in South Carolina and in America," she told supporters. "A fork in the road, if you will. And, we can take the same old path, with the same old people, but if we do, then we can expect only the same old results. Results such as: huge hikes in what it takes to fill up our gas tanks and our grocery carts; what it takes to keep our homes warm or cool and our families in good health; the same old path with the same old people - leading to foreclosures on homes, lost jobs and an economy which is dangerously unstable and leaves seniors wondering if their fixed incomes will stretch far enough."

Ketner stressed the lack of affordable housing in the First District, the cost of healthcare, jobs that have gone overseas, crime and drugs.

She said promises to soldiers and veterans, with situations like Walter Reed Hospital, have been broken.

"It's the same old path, with the same old people who spend and waste billions on a war that politicians can't seem to end; the same old path, and the same old people who have done nothing to improve our schools, or the literacy rate, and then wonder why we can't attract high paying jobs.

"We need that path forward where lower taxes aren't just for the super rich -- and sound fiscal policy isn't just a slogan, it's a reality! We balance our budgets, protect homeowners from deception, and pay as we go.

"The path forward understands you need to be more than strong to be great; and collaboration and diplomacy will once again be America's first choice in conflict. The path forward re-builds our alliances and shares responsibility with the entire world for a stable Middle East. The path forward knows that Homeland Security is more than taking shoes off in airports and throwing away our shampoo. The path forward understands that that the next Congress must operate not as partisans but as Americans first and foremost.

"People of the First District, this is the time for strength, for courage, for intelligence, for honesty, for action, for working together across all artificial barriers.

"It's a time to believe in ourselves and our decency and ingenuity as a people capable of performing extraordinary deeds.

"It's a time, when -- as Ma says -- there's a lot "needs doin'!" Let's "get at it!"

Ketner will return to Pawleys Island on Monday at 6 p.m. when she meets with Waccamaw Neck Democrats at the Pawleys Island library along with Democratic Senatorial candidate Michael Cone from Mt. Pleasant. Another guest will be Jo Ann Patterson, who is the former director of CASA for Horry and Georgetown counties.