Pelzer and West Pelzer voters have the opportunity to go to the polls today (Tuesday Nov. 5) to decide who will represent them on Town Council.
In Pelzer, six people signed up for the two council seats that are open for the election, however one has since withdrawn from the race. Candidates include incumbents Eddie Waits and Gary (Garbo) E. Pridmore, former councilman Will Ragland, James David Hatley and Brian E. Haynes. Margaret Jamison withdrew from the race after the candidate forum held recently, telling The Journal that she did not want to pull votes from another candidate. Precinct # 051, Pelzer will be at Life Journey Church, 2 Wesleyan Dr., Pelzer.
West Pelzer residents will vote on two council seats and the mayor seat which are open in the election. Incumbent Mayor Blake Sanders is the only candidate to sign up for mayor and will run unopposed. For the two council seats, Incumbent Jim Riddle and Pat Alexander signed up for the two open seats and will also run unopposed. The polling place for the election will be the West Pelzer Fire Department.
Voters will use the new paper-based system that is replacing the state’s aging paperless system that has been in place since 2004. Voters in municipal elections across the state, including Pelzer and West Pelzer, will be the first to use the new Election Systems and Software (ES&S) ExpressVote voting system.
Polls will be open to 7 p.m. tonight.
Williamston did not have an election this time.
