COUNTY — After weeks of controversy over candidate eligibility, the June primaries are nearly here, with South Carolina voters going to the polls next Tuesday, June 12.
Although many races were originally up for grabs in next week’s primaries, the number dwindled dramatically with last month’s state Supreme Court decision ruling nearly 200 candidates statewide ineligible for the election.
The only countywide Republican race is that for the office of Pickens County Sheriff, as Rick Clark and Billy Looper are both running against longtime sheriff C. David Stone in a hotly contested race that once featured five Republican candidates before last month’s ruling. The winner of Tuesday’s Republican primary will face off against Independent candidate Keith Culbreath in November’s election.
In the only other Republican races affecting only Pickens County voters, B.R. Skelton faces opposition from Ed. J Harris for the State House District 3 seat, while incumbent Davey Hiott will be challenged by newcomer Vicky Wynn for his State House District 4 seat.
Some Easley-area voters will also get an opportunity to cast ballots in the State House District 10 race, featuring Hamp Johnson and Joshua Putnam.
Although a small portion of State House District 2 falls in Pickens County’s Old Stone Precinct near Clemson, there are currently no registered Pickens County voters in that area. Bill Sandifer and Ed Rumsey are running for the State House District 2 seat.
The only race featured on Tuesday’s Democratic primary ballots will be U.S. House of Representatives District 3, as Brian Doyle and Cason Gaither will face off to see who takes on incumbent Republican Jeff Duncan for the seat in November.
For more information about the elections or candidates, visit the Pickens County Registration and Elections Commission at http://pickenselections.org/.