Hancock elected Hartsville’s new mayor
Hartsville Mayor-elect Casey G. Hancock. FILE PHOTO
By Bobby Bryant, Editor
“Roll up your sleeves, Hartsville. We’ve got work to do,” Hartsville’s new mayor, Casey Hancock, said after winning a Nov. 16 runoff election to lead Darlington County’s largest town. Hancock, who runs an information technology consulting business and is part owner of Wild Heart Brewing Co., the county’s first brewery, solidly defeated his runoff opponent, Justin Evans, by a vote of 836-682. Shortly after his win, lifelong Hartsville resident Hancock posted a message to supporters on his Facebook page: “Thank you. Such simple words, but they carry so much weight in my heart right now. “I can’t thank Hartsville enough for putting their faith in me to serve you in the capacity of mayor. I can’t wait to continue to walk beside you and listen to what you want from our city. To those who voted today, I thank you for exercising your right to make your voice heard. And to my campaign team, I thank you for believing in me and all the hard work you put into ushering us into this next chapter.” Hancock was one of five candidates who filed to succeed current Mayor Mel Pennington, who chose not to run again. He has been mayor for the past 11 years. One rival who didn’t make the runoff, Rev. J.D. Blue, threw his support to Hancock before the runoff. “Casey’s vision is our vision, and he has what’s best for the whole community at heart,” Blue said. “He’s passionate and is putting in the work and is ready for the job.” Hancock is a 2006 graduate of Clemson University. After college, he came back home to Hartsville and worked at Sonoco Products Co. He served Sonoco as a lab technician, and later, as a research and development chemist for 10 years. He now owns and operates Bear Squared LLC, an IT-consulting firm. He will officially be sworn in as mayor in January, when Pennington’s term ends. Evans described himself as an entrepreneur who has worked with three S.C. governors. He stressed making Hartsville friendlier to businesses and safer for the public. “If you don’t have safety – if you don’t feel comfortable to spend your money in this community — it’s not going to happen,” Evans said at a candidates’ forum. “You’re not going to have that kind of (economic) development.” He said “there are possibilities” for economic development, but said it has to start with the right environment. In a statement after the runoff, Evans said, “While we may have come up short in the vote, my love and excitement for Hartsville is unmoved.”
