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Greenville News, by Dan Hoover
GREENVILLE, S.C., Feb. 27, 2003 - Greenville
businessman Joe Erwin today announced his intention to seek
the chairmanship of the South Carolina Democratic Party.
The announcement comes less than two weeks after the current
chair, Dick Harpootlian, decided not to seek another term. Harpootlian
will serve until a new chairman is elected at the South Carolina
Democratic Party Convention in Columbia on Saturday, May 3.
"I'm eager to help the Democratic Party in South Carolina
regain its leadership role in addressing the key issues facing
our state, and the nation as a whole," said the 46-year-old
Erwin. "As a South Carolina native and active Democratic
supporter, I believe we can do more to articulate our vision
for bringing hope to our neighbors here in South Carolina and
across the United States."
Erwin acknowledged he's "not exactly a party insider"
in announcing his interest in the chairmanship, but detailed
his longstanding support of South Carolina's Democratic Party.
He was president of the Clemson Young Democrats in the late
1970s, where he first met and worked on behalf of U.S. Rep.
Jim Clyburn. Erwin served as a volunteer on Richard Riley's
1978 and 1982 gubernatorial campaigns and has actively supported
numerous statewide campaigns for such candidates as Sen. Ernest
Hollings, Secretary of Education Inez Tenenbaum and former Gov.
Jim Hodges.
"Like all other South Carolina Democrats, I owe a debt
of gratitude to people like Dick Riley, Jim Clyburn and Fritz
Hollings for showing how the Democrats can be the party of hope,"
said Erwin. "But our message is not as clear as it could
be, our organization is not as strong as it could be, and our
hope is not as vibrant as it could be. I hope to play a role
in changing that as Democratic Party chairman."
The election of a new chairman comes at a pivotal time for South
Carolina's Democratic Party. The state will host the South's
first presidential primary on Feb. 3, 2004, bringing great interest
to the state from presidential candidates, their supporters
and others interested in the race.
Raised in Taylors, S.C., Erwin is one of two children of the
late Henry Erwin and Isabel Erwin Kelly. He attended Clemson
University and earned a degree in political science in 1979.
He chose to pursue a career in advertising, but remained active
in South Carolina politics as a consultant, fundraiser and campaign
activist.
He began his career in the mailroom of Leslie Advertising in
Greenville, quickly earning a role planning and buying advertisements
for the agency's clients. Erwin left South Carolina for New
York in 1982 to work for D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles,
one of the largest and most respected ad agencies of its time.
He returned to Greenville in 1986 and, along with wife Gretchen,
purchased a one-person advertising agency, Penland Advertising,
with their life savings, renaming the firm Erwin-Penland Inc.
As president of Erwin-Penland, Erwin heads the largest advertising
and marketing firm in South Carolina, with more than 100 employees
and a roster of blue-chip regional and national clients. He
expects his communications background will be invaluable if
elected Democratic Party chairman.
"The Democratic Party has historically been a source of
tremendous ideas," said Erwin, "but we need to be
more effective at sharing those ideas with the people of South
Carolina. We need to do a better job of explaining to South
Carolinians what the Democrats stand for, and also improve communications
within the party to help identify individuals who have great
ideas and can play a bigger role in our democratic process."
Erwin is also a co-founder of Piedmont Publishing, which produces
the monthly Greenville Magazine along with a host of specialty
publications. In addition, he is a founder and principal of
First Base Ventures, a venture formation company that incorporates
fundamental business practices into today's new economy to give
start-up businesses a better chance for success.
An active participant and contributor to a variety of civic
and philanthropic causes, Erwin has served on boards for the
Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Greenville Historic
Foundation, South Carolina Special Olympics and the Governor's
Commission on Teacher Quality. In 2003 he was named an Alumni
Fellow by Clemson University, the highest honor the school bestows
upon its graduates.
Erwin, who lives in Taylors with his wife, Gretchen, and their
children, Douglas and Valerie, said he will be traveling throughout
South Carolina between now and the May 3 convention, seeking
input and support from Democrats across the state.
"My belief in the Democratic Party and what it stands for
is as strong as it's ever been," said Erwin. "To help
others across the state to share that belief and to join our
efforts is an important calling that I would be honored to undertake."
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