Ben Frasier
Encyclopedia
Ben Frasier, Jr. is a frequent political candidate in South Carolina
and the Democratic Party
nominee for a congressional seat in the November 2010 election.
He "surprised observers" in 2010 by beating retired Air Force Reserve Colonel Robert Burton in South Carolina's 1st congressional district
Democratic Party primary, with 56 percent of the vote to Burton's 44 percent. He was also a candidate in the 2008 election before losing in the Democratic primary to Linda Ketner
.
, Frasier said education and energy are his highest priorities. He supported expanded use of nuclear energy, ethanol and offshore drilling. He said the Federal Government could spend more on education, "but most of the responsibility is the state's."
. The Charleston County Board of Elections upheld his legitimacy in a unanimous decision.
His frequent candidacies have been criticized as having "forced more serious and more electable candidates to face him in primaries" and for having "forced the party to pay for those primaries, yet he has never campaigned seriously, let alone been victorious in one of those primaries."
In 2010, James Clyburn accused Frasier and South Carolina U.S Senate candidate Alvin Greene
of being Republican plants. The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission
(FEC) alleging that primary-winner Frasier, Greene, and two other candidates in the June 8, 2010 Democratic primary in South Carolina (Gregory Brown and Brian Doyle) violated the Federal Election Campaign Act
(FECA) and FEC regulations by failing to file mandatory disclosure reports prior to the 2010 South Carolina primary election.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for a congressional seat in the November 2010 election.
He "surprised observers" in 2010 by beating retired Air Force Reserve Colonel Robert Burton in South Carolina's 1st congressional district
South Carolina's 1st congressional district
The 1st Congressional District of South Carolina is a coastal congressional district in South Carolina. It stretches from Seabrook Island in the south to the North Carolina border and includes parts of Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown counties and all of Horry county...
Democratic Party primary, with 56 percent of the vote to Burton's 44 percent. He was also a candidate in the 2008 election before losing in the Democratic primary to Linda Ketner
Linda Ketner
Linda G. Ketner is a business consultant, philanthropist, and community activist in Charleston, South Carolina. She is President and Co-founder of KSI Leadership & Management Development.-Background:...
.
Political positions
In a 2008 election contest against Linda KetnerLinda Ketner
Linda G. Ketner is a business consultant, philanthropist, and community activist in Charleston, South Carolina. She is President and Co-founder of KSI Leadership & Management Development.-Background:...
, Frasier said education and energy are his highest priorities. He supported expanded use of nuclear energy, ethanol and offshore drilling. He said the Federal Government could spend more on education, "but most of the responsibility is the state's."
Election disputes
During the 2008 election his eligibility for office was questioned as he was accused of being a resident of MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. The Charleston County Board of Elections upheld his legitimacy in a unanimous decision.
His frequent candidacies have been criticized as having "forced more serious and more electable candidates to face him in primaries" and for having "forced the party to pay for those primaries, yet he has never campaigned seriously, let alone been victorious in one of those primaries."
In 2010, James Clyburn accused Frasier and South Carolina U.S Senate candidate Alvin Greene
Alvin Greene
Alvin Michael Greene is a Democrat from South Carolina. He was the Democratic Party's nominee in the 2010 United States Senate election in South Carolina. He was defeated by incumbent Republican Sen. Jim DeMint by a margin of 61.46% to 27.65%, with the remaining votes going to third-party and...
of being Republican plants. The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
(FEC) alleging that primary-winner Frasier, Greene, and two other candidates in the June 8, 2010 Democratic primary in South Carolina (Gregory Brown and Brian Doyle) violated the Federal Election Campaign Act
Federal Election Campaign Act
The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is a United States federal law which increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns. It was amended in 1974 to place legal limits on the campaign contributions...
(FECA) and FEC regulations by failing to file mandatory disclosure reports prior to the 2010 South Carolina primary election.