Census rally draws light turnout

Turnout was light for Saturday’s 2010 Census Rally in Darlington.

The event was aimed at heightening public awareness of and participation in this year’s U.S. Census and ensuring a more accurate count for Darlington County.

A small crowd of people gathered on the grounds of the Darlington County Courthouse where they listened to performances by a high school band and heard local elected leaders urge participation in the census.

Participants followed a Hartsville High School ROTC color guard and the Hartsville High School Red Regime Band in a parade around the courthouse.

Darlington County’s Complete Count Committee organized the event to help ensure a more accurate count for the county in the census.

Darlington County and South Carolina were under counted in the 2000 census, and officials want to prevent that from happening this time.

Census forms began arriving in mailboxes at area homes last week, and officials say it is important that recipients complete them and return them by mail to the U.S. Census Bureau.

People who do not receive a form should go to one of the several Census Questionnaire Assistance Centers operating in the county to obtain a form and fill it out, said Doug Reimold, chairman of the Darlington County Complete Count Committee.

Billions of federal dollars to states and local communities are distributed each year based on census data. Speakers at Saturday’s rally said an accurate census count is necessary to ensure that the county and state get their fair share of that funding.

The under count 10 years ago resulted in missed funding opportunities, they said.

“This census is for you,” Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, said.

Malloy said the effects of an under count would be lasting. “You won’t be able to replace this census until the next one in 10 years,” he said.

“Do your part. Let’s make this census work for Darlington County,” Malloy said.

Rep. Jay Lucas, R-Hartsville, said South Carolina’s response rate to the 2000 census was the second lowest in the nation. The state cannot afford another low count, he said.

Lucas noted that South Carolina could stand to gain a seventh U.S. congressional district in the next reapportionment. But that will depend on census data, he said.

In addition, when state legislative districts are redrawn, the Pee Dee stands to lose at least one district, Lucas said. And that could mean the loss of one of Darlington County’s three resident S.C. House seats, he said.

“There is $400 billion riding on this census data,” said Rep. Robert Williams, D-Darlington. “Today we’re here to bring awareness to the fact that everyone in Darlington County needs to be counted.”

Williams stressed the census form is just 10 questions and takes only a few minutes to complete. The data collected from the census, he said, is kept confidential by law.

“Here is something we can all do — be counted,” he said.

State Rep. Denny Neilson, D-Darlington, said with the state of the economy, the county and the state can ill afford to miss future opportunities for funding.

Darlington Mayor Tony Watkins pointed to several commercial buildings surrounding the courthouse square, several of which have been renovated to include upstairs apartments. “There are 29 families living overhead in these stores and I want every one of them to be counted,” he said.

“What your leaders are asking you to do now is very simple. Be counted,” Watkins said.

Society Hill Mayor Valencia Thomas led participants in chanting, “We’re fired up and ready to be counted.”

Hartsville Mayor Mel Pennington said his city is working hard in communities to ensure an accurate count. “Talk to your neighbors and friends and encourage them to fill out their census forms,” he said.

“The census is the most important survey you will receive,” said Darlington County Councilwoman Anne Warr of Lamar.

Despite the low turnout, Darlington County Councilwoman Wilhelmina Johnson, one of the event organizers, proclaimed the rally a success.

“We can’t overemphasize how important this is,” said Milton Smalls, partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau who has been working with the Complete Count Committee in Darlington County.