Because dozens of volunteers having been working hard to raise money to fund the Ketner campaign, the $1 million ceiling is about to be broken.

June 30 is the end of the Federal reporting quarter for candidates. If results are positive for candidates, it can catapult them toward a win. Linda, the campaign staff and fundraising volunteers are working 24-7 to meet the ambitious $1 million goal.

It's getting close. Donate [2] today! Encourage others to invest in forging a new path forward.

By Tony Bartelme

June 10, 2008

Democrat and political newcomer Linda Ketner will vie this fall with Republican incumbent Henry Brown for the 1st Congressional District seat.

Ketner handily beat perennial office-seeker Ben Frazier in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

With 73 percent of precincts reporting, Ketner had 65 percent of the vote to Frazier's 35 percent. It was Ketner's first run for office and Frazier's 18th unsuccessful bid.

In the Republican primary, Brown coasted past Johns Island businessman Paul Norris and Katherine Jenerette of North Myrtle Beach. Brown logged 70 percent of the vote, while Jenerette had 18 percent and Norris had 12 percent. Brown is seeking a fifth term in Congress. Brown is seeking his fifth term in Congress.

U.S. 1st Congressional District
Ben Frasier
Linda Ketner

Democrat Linda Ketner, a management consultant for businesses and nonprofits, says voters in the 1st Congressional District are tired of the "same old same old." She says she'll be a true fiscal conservative, noting Republicans have ruined their credentials with that title. Ketner says the current economic troubles are going to make it difficult for U.S. troops to remain in Iraq, even if we wanted to stay. Instead, the larger world should share in the reconstruction of Iraq, particularly other countries with a large investment in Iraqi success, like India and Saudi Arabia. She'll also bring clean air industries to the district to replace lost jobs, including offering tax breaks and incentives for innovative, renewable energy solutions. Ketner would establish universal pre-kindergarten and a minimum requirement of literacy by the end of the third grade.

Candidates focus on change in stoutly Republican district

By Zane Wilson
zwilson@thesunnews.com [9]

The two Democrats vying for the nomination for the U.S. 1st Congressional District seat are running against the incumbent more than they are against each other, but both say they see a change in the wind and a new chance for Democrats in the heavily Republican district.

Ben Frasier, 65, who lives half the year in Silver Spring, Md., and half on Wadmalaw Island near Charleston, is running for the 11th or 16th time for either U.S. House or Senate, he says he can't remember for sure. But he is encouraged that because of public dissatisfaction with Republicans, this could be his year.

Linda Ketner, 58, a Charleston consultant and daughter of the Food Lion grocery founder, is making her first bid for public office but also believes that this is a Democratic year.

by Jurgan [12]

Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 07:50:16 PM PDT

South Carolina is a tough state for Democrats.  We're undoubtedly one of the reddest states in the union.  So for a dyed-in-the-wool liberal, it can be depressing to live here.  Not only does the electoral college system render our votes irrelevant in a state that has only voted Democratic twice since 1960 (and never since 1980), but viable candidates rarely run for major office.  We had a Democratic governor for one term a few years back, and a Democratic senator for several decades (overshadowed by the infamous Strom Thurmond), but those tend to be exceptions.  In 2002, I voted Green Party for Congress as a protest, because there was no Democrat running against Republican Henry Brown.  He's never faced any serious challenge since.  So, after volunteering for the Obama campaign back in January, I was resigned to living in a write-off state.

For Immediate Release

June 4, 2008

South Carolina Congressman Henry Brown Pays Reduced Fine for 2004 Forest Fire

After four years of threats to the National Forest Service

CHARLESTON, SC - The Washington Post reported today that Congressman Henry Brown has settled his four year dispute with the U.S. Forest Service over the 2004 forest fire he set when a controlled burn jumped the fire lane from his property and burned 20 acres of the Francis Marion National Forest. The settlement, $4,747 - is less than the original $7,000 fine, and far less than the reported $100,000 in staff time to collect the fine.

By Greg Hambrick

Democrat Linda Ketner decided to run for Congress when her patience ran out. Iraq, schools, the economy, and a host of other issues mounted, and she wondered if she was the only one sick and tired of being sick and tired. So she went out in the district to find out, shaking hands at diners and grocery stores.

"What I discovered is that everybody is feeling it," she says. "They're frightened, desperate, angry. They want help. They want someone who's going to work for them."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 5, 2008

State leaders speak out in support of Ketner candidacy

COLUMBIA, SC - Linda joined party and state leaders in Columbia this weekend to discuss her plan for a new path forward for South Carolina's 1^st district.  In response, leaders from across the state have announced their support for her candidacy, and their belief that she is the best person to bring renewed energy and fous to a weakened economy, an education system that's failing our children, and a war that continues to drain resources from our priorities here at home.

"I support Linda Ketner in the upcoming Democratic Primary for Congress in the First Congressional District. Linda has great intelligence and energy, and has bold ideas to get our economy moving again, provide affordable health care, and protect our beautiful coast."

Jim Hodges, Former South Carolina Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                           

April 16, 2007                                                                                    

CHARLESTON, SC - Federal Election Commission reports show today that Linda Ketner, in her bid to replace incumbent Congressman Henry Brown, filed three times the amount of contributions in her campaign's April quarterly report. This is Ketner's first filing with the FEC after officially becoming a candidate.                                     

                                       Total Receipts                    Total Receipts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 15, 2008

CHARLESTON, SC -- Linda Ketner announced today that thanks to the support of nearly 600 individuals, her campaign will report raising over $413,000 in its first filing statement with the FEC. "I am humbled by the outpouring of support from people in every corner of the first congressional district." said Ketner.

Ketner's campaign manager, Jamie Fontaine, pointed to the fact that the campaign has nearly outraised any previous challenger in this district. "Henry Brown has never been challenged. In this campaign's first filing period, we have nearly out raised all of Brown's previous challengers during the full course of their campaigns. With close to 600 people investing in Linda Ketner's call for a new path forward, there's no doubt we'll have the resources necessary to give voters a real choice in November."

Some additional facts: