Nephron Pharmaceuticals Owner and CEO Lou Kennedy made a campaign donation to Lexington County Council District 8 Candidate Glen Conwell.

Incumbent Ned Tolar is circulating an email calling on Conwell to return that contribution.
Conwell is challenging Tolar in the June 12, GOP primary. Chuck Crouch is also a candidate.

Kennedy is vocal in her support for Conwell.

“I am very proud to say I am supporting Glen Conwell for the District 8, Lexington County Council race. Glen will be a true positive force for the county I dearly love. For the record, I am actively working alongside others to make our great county better, and I happily support the council members who share this interest. It is my hope you vote your conscience in this race. We need honesty, fairness, intelligence and a true family devotee. Glen Conwell is a great choice.”

Tolar has made an issue of the $5,000 donation Kennedy made to Conwell via the S.C. Republican Party. But Kennedy said she is miffed by Tolar’s opposition because there is nothing unethical, or illegal, about the donation. “It’s totally above board,” Kennedy said.

Conwell is the owner of Conwell’s Meat Market. Kennedy said she talked to people about him before making the contribution.
“Glen is a good, Christian man who served on the Lexington 2 School Board,” Kennedy said.

Tolar is implying Kennedy’s support is tied to the incentives Nephron received in 2011. But Kennedy said those incentives were based on pledges Nephron made to the county and state.

“Yes, we received incentives to come to South Carolina,” Kennedy said. “And we have outpaced every expected promise for the good of West Columbia and Lexington County. We have hired 850 people, spent more than $350 million, gave the employees an unexpected raise of 5 percent, and we philanthropically support the area in abundance.”

Nephron also moved its headquarters from Florida to Lexington County.

Kennedy said making an issue of her support for Conwell is “another reason not to elect Ned Tolar. He should try and win by shouting all the wonderful things he has done to improve the county since he was elected, not penalize an honest candidate who was supported by a woman who loves her county.”