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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>November 5, 2014<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From: Parnell Diggs, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Positive Note 1473<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> We are releasing the Positive Note slightly later than normal so that we may bring you special Election coverage: South Carolina Votes. Since the statewide Seminar early in 2014, we have been talking about the General Elections and my participation as a candidate for the Office of Attorney General.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You may recall that I had been a candidate for Congress in 2012 and received approximately 1400 votes. I finished third in a Primary Election that year. In 2014, I had the high honor of being a major party nominee for statewide office and was therefore entitled to appear on the November General Election ballot. This was a huge step forward for me, as many candidates offer to run for office and never progress through the Primary, especially in a race for statewide office.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>While I had no opposition in the Primary in 2014, it is important to realize that a major party would not permit a candidate to run whom the party did not support. This is to say that, even if a candidate (whom the party did not support) filed to run for office, another candidate would be recruited in an effort to assure that the party supported the ultimate nominee.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In my case, the party was quite happy to have me on the ballot, and thus no other candidates were recruited. I tried to represent my party well and help move the party forward without detracting from the effort to elect candidates, which is the ultimate goal of any political party.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I believe I was able to add to the effort. That being said, I believe my Federation family is aware that Tuesday evening was a tough night for Democrats across the nation. With limited resources, however, my vote totals were similar to other Democratic candidates who spent millions of dollars on the 2014 campaign. When I went to bed on Tuesday, I had received over 474 thousand votes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My campaign was not solely an effort to demonstrate the capabilities of blind people, but it was a welcomed consequence. I believe blind people received favorable exposure in the general public as a result of the campaign. Incidentally, some of my biggest supporters were Republicans who know me well. Nearly a half-million votes is a lot of votes, and I am honored to have received the support of so many South Carolinians including those in my Federation family.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let me tell one final short story. Bakari Sellers, a candidate for Lieutenant Governor remarked during a campaign rally that he had met a lady who was responsible for getting fifteen blind people to the polls to vote absentee. He did not immediately see the Federation connection, but I knew right away that he was speaking of none other than State Board member Linda Dizzley, and I told him so.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am grateful to everyone who gave their time, financial support, energy, and manpower in the effort. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Valerie Bouler Johnson, who drove thousands of miles helping me get from place to place in the many campaign appearances required of candidates for high office. I would not have been competitive without her, nor would the political forces in the state have seen me as even a serious candidate. Thank you, my Federation family.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What we have done together is important because the National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic which defines you or your future. Every day, we raise expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want: blindness is not what holds you back. Joining me for comments in this Positive Note is the President Emeritus of the NFB of SC. Here is Dr. Capps.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Our distinguished state President Parnell Diggs received some 40% of the statewide vote for the office of Attorney General. This is an excellent result as the incumbent, Alan Wilson, the son of Congressman Joe Wilson, for the past several weeks had been continuously in the media as the result of his prosecution of former Speaker Bobby Harrell. Given all of these circumstances, I think it’s safe to state that virtually no one could have defeated the incumbent. We are really proud of our state president who cris-crossed the state in his campaign for Attorney General. Unquestionably, President Diggs’ political speeches received appreciation from those at his many political stops. We also applaud his supportive wife Kim and teenage son Jordan. As everyone knows the federation is doing everything it can to improve the public’s understanding about blindness – what it is and what it is not. President Diggs has a positive attitude and is an excellent speaker. He leaves a good impression with those who are privileged to hear his presentations. Parnell certainly had the support of the state’s blind community and this is a plus for everyone concerned. In his campaign he received a lot of good publicity. I especially felt the extensive article in The State newspaper some few weeks ago was most favorable. The “Free Times” is a weekly publication in Columbia received by businesses and residents. This excellent weekly spoke of Parnell in a positive light. At no point did I ever see any negative coverage about Parnell’s blindness. Those of us who are close to him appreciate his service in the NFB of SC. He is now in his 15th year as President of the NFB of SC and is popular throughout the state and nation. Parnell is still young and this campaign is probably not the last one as he is committed to public service. He will have our support and gratitude. Like many of you across the state we stayed up until midnight watching election returns, which is two hours past our normal bedtime. We add our appreciation to the thousands of South Carolinians who voted for Parnell Diggs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: “Power does not lie within the politicians but within the voters.”<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>