McBride tells opponents ‘attack me, not my family and wife’

A flier paid for by the Good Government for Myrtle Beach group publicizes tax liens issued to Mark Mcbride’s wife Laura.

McBride, the former mayor of Myrtle Beach who is running for election in Tuesday’s mayoral election, says the political campaigns in the race for mayor are getting too personal.

“People and Mr. Pearce and John Rhodes and anybody who wants to attack me you can attack me but don’t attack my children or my wife,” said McBride.

According to Horry County online tax records, the most recent liens served to Laura McBride were in May of 2008.

McBride says his family has owed tax money, but doesn’t think political opponents should mention his family in campaign ads.

“John Rhodes and I have differences of opinion. But when it’s a difference of opinion on a voted upon issue, that’s fair and I’m fair. I mean I got into this….you know, attack me. Don’t attack my wife. Don’t bring her name. Don’t print her name. Don’t put stuff out that involves her,” said McBride.

Mayor Rhodes denies responsibility for the ad.

“There’s nobody I’ve seen or talked to who has said anything negative about Mark McBride’s wife or a flyer about her. It just sounds like a ploy. Mark being Mark,” said Rhodes.

The flyer also says McBride was ordered to vacate a home he rented on 44th avenue in Myrtle Beach.

The realtor of the home, Miller Hawkins of Booe Realty, says an eviction notice was filed after a dispute between McBride and the landlord, but they mutually agreed on a termination of the lease and the McBrides were not evicted.

“Saying we were evicted from our home is a complete falsification of records,“ said Laura McBride.

McBride says H.E. Pearce, chairman of the group that funded the ad, will be hearing from his legal counsel after the election.

News 13 placed a phone call to Pearce’s home phone number, but he did not answer and has not returned our message.