UPDATE: Ted Vick has ended his campaign for South Carolina’s 7th congressional district, according to SCNow’s Seth Waggener. Vick’s campaign released a statement Thursday night reading: “I very much regret any embarrassment I’ve caused for my family, friends and supporters. My family comes first to me and I’m going to spend time with them and consult with my pastor. Politics will have to wait.”
Original story continues below:
Having lived near Columbia’s Five Points neighborhood for the better part of three years, we’ve been known to frequent Delaney’s Irish Pub from time to time for their popular Wednesday pint nights. Walk into the frat-tastic bar with 10 bucks in your pocket, and after a few two-dollar pints you could easily be walking out of there with a good buzz going.
But even while in college, your faithful editor had enough sense not to drive anywhere after evenings at Delaney’s. Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to be the case with state Rep. Ted Vick (D-Chesterfield). The Democratic frontrunner for South Carolina’s new congressional district was busted on DUI and illegal weapons charges Wednesday night while driving away from the popular bar and eatery. Columbia police told WIS-TV’s Jack Kuenzie that Vick also had a 21-year-old college student in the car with him, who is presumably not Vick’s wife Melissa.
So… does this mean Boyd Brown is no longer the official “representative of Five Points?”
A recent poll of the SC-7 race put Vick ahead of Democratic rival Preston Brittain by 15 points in the primary, with the Washington Post predicting that Vick could defeat Republican frontrunner André Bauer in the general election. Obviously both of those prospects just took a huge hit, though I suppose that weapons charge could still help his NRA rating…
A question to ponder: With all the taxis and police cars zipping around Five Points at night, what state lawmaker (let alone a congressional candidate with an actual shot at winning) would even think about getting behind the wheel after having one too many pints?
“Ted Vick [is] almost as stupid as Thad Viers,” Republican political operative Wes Donehue quipped shortly after the news broke. “…Almost.”
On the other hand, given this state’s notorious propensity for drunk-driving and binge-drinking, we can’t exactly say we’re surprised.
Why didn’t you also post a pic of Jake’s?
“The report indicates Vick and the 21-year-old met at Delaney’s Pub and then had drinks at Jake’s Bar before he offered to give her a ride to her home on Bluff Rd.”
Thank you, Maggie May, I was wondering the exact same thing.
Logan, what are you doing reporting this? I thought you were a Democratic Party hack. That’s what the trolls keep saying, anyway.