Reed first to register for City Council Ward #2
Reed fills out candidate registration for Darlington City Council Ward #1 set. Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Candidate registration opened at noon, February 5, for the Darlington City Council Ward #2 seat vacated when former council member Gloria C. Hines was elected mayor. Even before the clock struck 12, the first candidate for that seat – Darlington native Elaine Reed – was waiting at City Hall to throw her hat in the ring.
Reed says that while she has never run for public office before, she felt inspired by Hines’ victory and hopes to help the mayor forward her plans to re-establish Darlington as The Pearl of the Pee Dee.
“Darlington has so much resources that has not been tapped,” says Reed. “I feel like with my experience and my political contacts, I will be able to make a difference so that we can make Darlington move forward.”
Retired now from the SC Department of Health and Human Services, Reed has worked on numerous political campaigns over three decades for candidates like Joe Riley and David Beasley, and she was the first African American news reporter for WBTW. She has also helmed the Religion and Race Committee at St. James United Methodist Church.
Reed was married to the late Lorand Reed, Jr. of California, and their son, Lorand Reed III, stood by her side as she filled out her candidate registration.
The Ward #2 seat must remain open for 13 weeks from the time of Hines’ resignation from city council. Election Day will be Tuesday, April 5, 2016. Residents of Ward #2 may vote between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. that day.
Filing for candidates closes at noon February 19 and takes place at City Hall, 400 Pearl St.
For more information, contact the Darlington County Election Commission at 843-398-4900 or City Manager Howard Garland at 843-398-4000, ext.103.
NOTE: Print copy said Ward #1. Correction will be in the next print edition. Our apologies.
