Tinkler, Thurmond Debating Tonight in West Ashley

For a while it was questionable whether voters would have a chance to weigh in on the S.C. Senate District 41 seat at all, but tonight they can hear from both candidates in person.

The Old Charles Towne District Task Force is hosting Republican Paul Thurmond and Democrat Paul Tinkler at a town hall style candidate forum at Orange Grove Elementary Charter School.

Live5News Anchor Bill Sharpe will moderate the forum, which runs 7:15 - 8:30 p.m. Monday. Each candidate will make an opening statement and answer two questions from Task Force members before the floor is opened to the audience for additional questions.

The race for the Senate 41 seat got interesting in March when former Lt. Gov. Ken Ard pleaded guilty to ethics violations and resigned. The S.C. Constitution , leaving his long held seat up for grabs.

Then the S.C. Supreme Court threw hundreds of candidates off ballots across the state on a widespread technicality. Eventually a court ruled that Thurmond was among those that should have been removed, but by the time the lawsuit was decided Thurmond had already won a primary election. So the judge ordered a new primary and allowed candidates who had been removed, or should have been removed, from the earlier ballot to run again.

The , and Thurmond won the second primary. 

Finally a lawsuit was filed in federal court claiming that holding the second primary violated the Voting Rights Act. A three-judge panel heard arguments in the case on Oct. 16 and ruled two days later that Thurmond would stay on the ballot for the general election.

The election is on Nov. 6.