Voters will go to the polls next Tuesday for election day with State races being their primary focus, as many local candidates are running unopposed.
Governor Nikki Haley faces a broad spectrum of challengers, but Vincent Sheheen, her Democratic foe, is generally conceded to be the only significant opposition. That race took an interesting turn this week, as “independent Republican” Tom Ervin withdrew from the race and endorsed the Democrat Sheheen.
U.S. Congressman Jeff Duncan faces opposition from Barbara Jo Mulliss for the District Three Congressional seat.
Senator Lindsey Graham faces several challengers, including Democrat Brad Hutto, Libertarian Victor Kocher, and Independent Thomas Ravenel, while Senator Tim Scott seeks his first full term. He was appointed by Governor Haley to fill Jim DeMint’s term after DeMint resigned to assume leadership of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
Scott, South Carolina’s first black Senator, faces Democrat Joyce Dickerson and American Party nominee Jill Bossi
On the local level, the races are much less dramatic. In many cases, the Republican incumbents are unopposed.
In the S.C. House races, Representatives Brian White, Mike Gambrell, Jonathon Hill, Anne Thayer and Josh Putnam are all unopposed. Hill defeated incumbent Don Bowen in the Republican primary.
In the Anderson County Council races, District One incumbent Frances Crowder faces opposition from Democratic Party chairman Stuart Sprague. District Two Councilwoman Gracie Floyd is opposed by Larry Ray Bright.
The remainder of the Council seats are unopposed, with Republican Mitchell Cole taking over the District Three seat after defeating incumbent Eddie Moore in the primary. Council members Tom Allen, Tommy Dunn, Ken Waters, and Cindy Wilson all retain their seats by default.
Williamston voters will decide who will represent them on town council. In Ward 1 voters will decide between incumbent Tony Hagood and challenger Greg Cole, both running as write-in candidates.
Ward 2 incumbent Rockey Burgess is facing a challenge by political newcomer Joan Ragsdale.
Anderson School District One Board members up for re-election are running unopposed.
They are: District 1 – Melissa Ellison Hood; District 4 – Incumbent, Fred G. Alexander; District 5 – Doug Atkins; District 7 – Nancy Owen Upton.
School District One voters will decide whether they support a referendum concerning a one cent sales and use tax to fund capital improvements for Anderson County schools.
The issue will be decided by voters across the county depending on the outcome of the vote in each district.
Additional voting information and sample ballots are available online at www.scvotes.org.
