Tuesday’s GOP primary to decide most races

COUNTY — Pickens County voters will head to the polls next Tuesday, June 14, for the 2016 Republican primary.

For many candidates, Tuesday will be the day of reckoning. Barring any runoffs and write-in campaigns, many of the races for county and state offices will be decided on Tuesday, as many candidates will face no Democratic opposition in the Nov. 8 general election.

In the Pickens County Council District 3 race, incumbent Randy Crenshaw willl face a challenge from Jimmy Davis, Wes Hendricks and Alex Saitta.

Challengers Roy Costner and Keith Culbreath seek to unseat incumbent G. Neil Smith in the County Council District 4 race.

There will be a new county council member representing District 5, as incumbent Jennifer Willis is not seeking re-election. Mitch Bagwell, Chris Bowers, Robert Sams, Harley Staton and Jeff Willis are seeking the District 5 seat.

In District 6, Carl Hudson faces no opposition for the seat. Daniel Lee also filed for the race, but has withdrawn his candidacy. Incumbent Tom Ponder is not seeking re-election.

Sheriff Rick Clark seeks re-election. He’ll face former assistant sheriff Tim Morgan on Tuesday.

The winner of that contest faces no opposition in November.

Only one of the two State Senate races is contested. In District 1, Senator Thomas Alexander faces no opposition.

In the District 2 race, three Republican candidates — Don Joslyn, Allen Quinn and Rex Rice — are seeking to unseat incumbent Sen. Larry Martin.

In the race for the State House of Representatives District 5 seat, challenger Rick Tate will try to unseat incumbent Neal Collins.

Two House members face no Republican opposition on Tuesday, but will have challengers in the fall. District 4 Rep. Davey Hiott will face Libertarian candidate Joey Lum in the general election. District 3 Rep. Gary Clary will face Libertarian candidate Travis McCurry November 8.

Congressman Jeff Duncan faces no Republican opposition on Tuesday for the U.S. House of Representative District 3 seat, but he will face Democrat Hosea Cleveland in November.

Likewise, U.S. Senator Tim Scott faces no primary opposition on Tuesday. He’ll face Libertarian and Constitution Party candidate Bill Bledsoe, Democrat Thomas Dixon and American Party candidates Jim Hinkle and Rebel Scarborough in the fall.

Many county officials face no opposition at all, including auditor Brent Suddeth, treasurer Dale Looper, coroner Kandy Kelley and clerk of court Pat Welborn.

A list of polling locations and sample ballots can be found at pickenselections.org.