Slovakian ambassador views election process in area

The rain did not deter voters or special visitors from North Augusta Precinct 27 during Saturday's Republican Primary.

A steady stream of voters was surprised to find the local election process under the scrutiny of a representative from a budding democracy in Europe.

Peter Burian, the ambassador of the Slovak Republic, joined Second Congressional District U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson in getting a first-hand look at how such an election works.

"I'm thankful for the invitation to see first-hand how the people enthusiastically participate in the democratic process," said Burian, who said the experience was the best way to learn more about how a democracy works.

Also joining Wilson, R-S.C., on a tour throughout the 2nd Congressional District during the Republican primary Saturday was Guillaume Scheurur, the Charge d'affaires a.i. (ad interim) of Switzerland. Along for the experience was John Gizzi, political editor for Human Events, a long-time friend of Wilson's.

Wilson has gotten to know Ambassador Burian and is the Republican co-chair of a Friends of Slovakia organization in Washington, D.C. He explained that Slovakia is an emerging democracy.

The group visited polling places in North Augusta, Aiken and Wagener, as well as communities throughout the district. Wilson said he was particularly impressed to see so many young people voting.

Calling the election process "complicated," Burian compared the experience to watching the Super Bowl. "It's so unpredictable and so exciting," said the ambassador. "I hope the best team will win."

And as Wilson herded his guests to the sidelines for incoming voters, he said, "The key thing is not to interfere with the voters."

Also along for the tour was Brian Eisele, a special assistant to Congressman Wilson, who grew up in this area and has now returned to serve in the congressman's local office. (Under the new redistricting plan in South Carolina, Wilson will take over representation of the entirety of Aiken County from U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan after the November election.)

Rep. Wilson can be reached locally at (803) 608-9747. His local office is at 1555 Richland Ave. East, Suite 700 in Aiken.

While in Aiken, Burian was delighted to meet USC Aiken junior Tomas Greizinger, a Slovakian native, and Chancellor Dr. Tom Hallman, who noted that Greizinger is the latest of several students from that nation to attend the university.

"It's great to see a Slovak student here who can bring knowledge back to Slovakia," Burian said. "Our country is economically developing quite well, but we need new blood and new brains coming back to Slovakia and passing on what they have learned."

"It's like the ambassador said, that Slovakia needs people to come back to bring knowledge," Greizinger noted. "It was very important to hear that from him, and I want to do something like that. A university degree from the U.S. is very valued in Slovakia."

Senior writer Rob Novit contributed to this article.