Darlington County primaries set for June 14
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Just as local voters put one local political race to bed, several others are on the horizon, and the Darlington County Office of Elections and Registrations has begun preparing for the Democratic and Republican Primaries scheduled for June 14.
Voters hit the ballot boxes on April 5 to elect a new Darlington City Council member to represent Ward #2, and candidate Elaine Reed defeated candidate Valarie Boston by a final tally of 258 to 98. Results were finalized and approved by the County Board of Elections on April 7, clearing the way for Reed to take the council seat vacated when former Ward #2 rep Gloria Hines was sworn in as Mayor in January.
The Ward #2 election again featured strong absentee voting presence, with Reed receiving 143 votes cast by absentee or early voting ballot, and Boston getting 41 such votes.
Darlington County director of Elections and Registrations Hoyt Campbell says this fits with a widespread election trend where more and more voters are opting to vote early, citing numerous reasons for their decision. He says voters often elect to vote absentee due to work conflicts, vacations, transportation problems, or worry that they might encounter long lines at their precincts – although Campbell notes that with the use of efficient voting machines and well-trained poll workers, those “long lines” are seldom more than three or four voters.
Campbell says that for the upcoming primaries and the general election in November, the county will employ perhaps 300 poll workers, usually a mix of retired citizens and high school students. They receive training to process voters and operate voting machines, and receive about $60 for completing training and another $60 for working on election day. Anyone interested in becoming a poll worker can contact his office for more information at 843-398-4900.
The June 14 primaries include numerous candidates running unopposed, and some incumbents facing opposition. Regardless of their registered party of record, South Carolina voters can choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary, but not both. Voters will be asked in which primary they wish to vote, and the area of the county in which they live in order to determine which local district races will appear on their ballot.
The following is a list of all local candidates running for their party’s nomination. Winners from these primary races will appear on the November 8 general election ballot.
Democratic Primary Candidates
U.S. Senate: Thomas Dixon
U.S. House of Representatives District #7: Mal Hyman
State Senate District #29: Gerald Malloy
State Senate District #36: Kevin L. Johnson
State House of Representatives District # 54: Patricia “Pat” Moore
State House of Representatives District #55: Jackie E. Hayes
State House of Representatives District #59: Terry Alexander
State House of Representatives District #62: Robert Williams
Solicitor Circuit #4: Will Rogers
Darlington County Sheriff: Wayne Byrd; Tony Chavis
Clerk of Court: Scott B. Suggs
Coroner: J. Todd Hardee
Auditor: Brenton Dana; Margaret Ross Rogers
County Treasurer: Glenda B. Atkinson; Robin Slater Edwards
County Council District #3: Wilhelmina P. Johnson; Joyce Wingate Thomas
Republican Primary Candidates
County Council District #1: Bobby Kilgo
County Council District #5: Le Flowers
County Council District #7: Robbin Brock (current vice chair); Lewis Brown
County Treasurer: Jeff Robinson
State House of Representatives District #54: J.D. Chaplin
State House of Representatives District #65: Jay Lucas
Polling locations will be open from 7 am until 7 pm on Tuesday, June 14. If you have questions about your precinct voting location, or would like to vote early, call the Darlington County Office of Elections and Registrations, or visit their office at 131 Cashua Street in Darlington.