"WHICH” RELATIONSHIPS MATTER?

September 16, 2023

Irmo elections are up and running, as well as the signs. “Fresh, new voice” is one, again, and again, and again, and again. These signs must be pre-printed, just insert name. Was actually used in one of the last elections by another Barry candidate, and again, this time by another Barry candidate, but this will be another article soon to come.

 This article is about Barry’s signs and his slogan. So, I must ask, which “relationships matter” could he be referring to? Those relationships with Brandy, Jada, Erik Sickinger, and/or Kelly Busch. Whom are not supporting Barry this Mayor’s race? How about the relationship with Bill Danielson, which Barry “endorsed” at last moment in Bill’s election over Barry’s hand-picked candidate. Barry’s relationship with her didn’t last until the election. Nor did his with Bill Danielson, since Bill is running against Barry for Mayor. 

  In 2019 according to Barry’s state.sc.gov Initial Campaign Disclosure, he received funds for his campaign from various people who originally were supporters of Bill Danielson for Mayor in the 2019 election. Oh, you didn’t know that, did you? But when Bill decided not to run at that time, they switched to Barry. The 2023 Initial Campaign Disclosure for Barry doesn’t have the same financial supporters or dollar amount (2019 report $4800, 2023 $1000). Again, this leads me to believe those relationships don’t matter this campaign.

 I first ran for Irmo Council in 2003, 2004, and elected in 2005, re-elected in 2009, elected to Mayor 2011, and again in 2015. So I have been in this environment awhile and can’t count the number of people who helped Barry in his campaigns over the years, but weren’t back to help him in his next election, some even came to help me. And now many of those who ran with Barry in 2019, worked with him, helped him, and supported him in 2019, are not working with him, helping him, supporting him, in this 2023 election. 

  By the way, while you are at the state.sc.gov website checking public reporting, you might as well check Bill Danielson’s financial disclosures for Mayor’s race in 2019, and his subsequent campaign disclosures for Town Council in 2020, 2021, and this Mayor’s race in 2023.

   Yes, “Relationships Matter”, and relationship matters, but keeping those relationships, matters more.