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BACKGROUND - Here is my endorsement release and my Facebook Post leading up to my decision.

Three important points:

(1) "...there is too much at stake for our District and our Nation for me to play it politically safe and sit on the sidelines. I felt that the right thing to do is to step-up, pick a side and decide which candidate, in my judgment, would do what was in the best interest of all the people of the new 7th District in the long run..."

(2) "...I do not consider Andre Bauer as a candidate for political sainthood..."

(3) "...I had him promise me two things if he was elected – first, that he would take care of the people of this district and have our backs in Washington DC against big government. And second, that he would personally go to Afghanistan and see first hand what our military; especially our combat soldiers, go through on a day to day basis for this country..."

Guys, it was a tough call. ~ Katherine (http://www.jenerette.com/2010_bio/index.html)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - DATE: Monday, June 18, 2012

Katherine Jenerette Endorses Andre Bauer in 7th Congressional District Run-Off

South Carolina - On Monday, Katherine Jenerette, a US Army Paratrooper and Afghanistan War Veteran and a former candidate for the new 7th District Congressional Seat, announced that she has endorsed former Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer for the run-off election to be held next week, Tuesday, June 26.

Jenerette said:

“I would like to congratulate both Tom Rice and Andre Bauer for their close finish in last week’s primary election. After much thought, prayer and discussion I have decided to fully endorse the candidacy of Andre Bauer to be the next United States Congressman for the Seventh Congressional District of South Carolina.

In the days immediately following the primary, I was contacted by both candidates and their staff and asked for my endorsement. To be candid, this was a difficult decision because I believe that both candidates are more than capable of doing the job of a congressman and representing our new district, but I also found that both have very different styles and very different interests behind them.

While I do not consider Andre Bauer as a candidate for political sainthood, I have known him for years even to the point of being on the opposite sides in many political issues and races here in South Carolina. However, I know very little about Tom Rice who was not even a part of the political process in this community or region when I mobilized to leave for my combat tour of duty in Afghanistan. To me Mr. Rice was a surprise candidate and while that is neither a plus nor a minus in itself, it made my endorsement decision more difficult because I entered this race to try and win, not to endorse another candidate in the run-off. In my opinion both candidates had certain qualities that I admired and both candidates have aspects that I found quite different from my own style of leadership.

But at this point there is too much at stake for our District and our Nation for me to play it politically safe and sit on the sidelines. I felt that the right thing to do is to step-up, pick a side and decide which candidate, in my judgment, would do what was in the best interest of all the people of the new 7th District in the long run.

I wished that there was some great difference between these two candidates on the issues that I could point out, but most politicians pretty much sound the same and the fact is that a good Congressman is more than just shaking hands and raising money. It is about representing a whole lot of ordinary people.

The job of a congressman is to care and represent all the people of the district from the small business owner in Florence, the family with four kids in Chesterfield County, retired seniors in the South Strand, the biggest hotels and restaurants along the coast and to be answerable to them directly.

The bottom line became that I wanted to make sure our best Regional and National interests are going to be served and that the people will not be forgotten once the election is over and the winner goes to Washington, DC.

Finally, before I made my final decision I spoke to Andre about the issues that were important to me and those people who supported me. I had him promise me two things if he was elected – first, that he would take care of the people of this district and have our backs in Washington DC against big government. And second, that he would personally go to Afghanistan and see first hand what our military; especially our combat soldiers, go through on a day to day basis for this country.

Mr. Bauer agreed and I made it clear to him that I would work against him in two years if he didn’t take care of this district and live up to his promises.

I expect this Run-off will be an uphill fight and I encourage all of the voters of the Seventh Congressional District to support Andre Bauer and get out the Vote during the run off election next week and make him our next United States Congressman."

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Jenerette, from North Myrtle Beach, is a Captain in the US Army Reserve and was awarded the Combat Action Badge after an insurgent attack in Kandahar Province last fall. Jenerette has served two combat tours of duty; she joined the Army at 19-years old and after Iraq invaded Kuwait was deployed in Operation Desert Storm.

Jenerette, who is married and has four children is a graduate Coastal Carolina University and holds a Masters Degree from USC – Columbia and was a college history instructor before she deployed to Afghanistan. She has served as a U.S. Congressional Field Representative for South Carolina’s First District, a North Myrtle Beach Planning Commissioner, the CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association and was a Candidate for US Congress in 2010.

Katherine was recently named as one of THE 45 MOST ADMIRED REPUBLICAN WOMEN UNDER 45 by The Republican Security Council based in Washington, D.C.http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.104023369696843.5156.101173139981866

She was recently a volunteer coach for the North Myrtle Beach High School Girl’s Track and Field Regional Championship team and is active in regional veteran’s organizations and activities including support for Wounded Warriors projects.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.jenerette.com
Contact: media@jenerette.com (843) 685-5476
Photo at: http://www.jenerette.com/jenerette_katherine.jpg

= = = = = = = = SUNDAY 17 June 2010 = = = = = =

FaceBook Post:

"This has been more than a busy week since the Primary Election on Tuesday. I’ve been inundated with phone calls, emails, text messages, etc. that can be categorized as the “Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” It’s not hard to guess that the subject was the Run-off scheduled for the June 26th between Tom Rice and Andre Bauer. People are asking me who I would recommend and push-pull to pick one or the other. I have been in contact with both candidates and have to say they have been polite in asking for my endorsement.

Of course I got in the race because I thought I could bring more to the table as the 7th District Congressman then the 9 or 10 people who were running before I even left Afghanistan. Some dropped out and some jumped in and out, so finally I got into the race knowing that I only had about 10-weeks to try and get into the run-off.

The way I see it, I have three choices: #1. Stay on the sidelines #2. Endorse and assist Tom Rice and #3. Endorse and assist Andre Bauer.

I am still looking very carefully at the decision I must make. I don’t see how I can help a whole lot, except to give a little more than a credible opinion on who I think can represent the people of our district best as our next Congressman. I will let you know ~ Katherine "

= = = = = = = = SATURDAY 16 June 2010 = = = = = =

FaceBook UPDATE: from Katherine Jenerette - Thank you to all of the Voters of the 7th District!

Your actions, by showing up to vote on June 12th sent a clear message that the people of the Grand Strand and Pee Dee region are ready to move beyond ‘Politics as Usual’ and are ready for a type of leadership who will hear their voices and really fight for all the people of our new district and our US Constitution.

While I did not get into the run-off, my team of volunteers and supporters can be proud of the fact that together; in a short 10-week campaign, we were advancing everyday one-vote-at-a-time to closing in on the frontrunners. We just ran out of time. Not bad for getting out of the ‘starting blocks’ in April after I left active duty so that I could run for our new Congressional seat. It is noteworthy that last fall that while all four of the candidates that finished ahead of us were busy gathering dollars and making deals for votes - instead of campaigning and asking for money - I was on patrol and missions along with some of America’s bravest young men and women in Southern Afghanistan.

I’ve learned over the years that anything worthwhile is worth the fight and our system of ‘Government by the People’ is worth every fight, wherever the battle may be.

From the small business owner in Florence, the family with four kids in Chesterfield County, retired seniors in the South Strand, the biggest hotels and restaurants along the coast and the port in Georgetown, etc. - all should be represented.

Win or lose, there is a lot of work ahead to be done for our district, our state and our nation. My sincere appreciation to my team of supporters and volunteers during this 10-week whirl wind campaign tour and thanks to those voters who went to the polls and cast their votes on election day; even if they did not vote for me. Our elections are for all the people, which is why I served in uniform alongside so many others - so we all could be free to vote our choices and our conscience.

Thank you and God Bless! ~ Katherine

http://www.jenerette.com/2010_bio/index.html

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