Whisenant Waging Write-in Campaign for Sheriff

Mark Whisenant was one of the more than 260 candidates kicked off ballots across South Carolina this spring by a couple of S.C. Supreme Court decisions, but he hasn't given up on running for Charleston County Sheriff.

"It's unfortunate that the Supreme Court took choices away from South Carolina voters," says Whisenant in a press release about his write-in effort. "I think that the citizens of Charleston County deserve a choice after 24 years. The citizens of Charleston County deserve a sheriff who obeys the laws he is sworn to uphold.  Its time we had a new sheriff in town."

Whisenant has criticised six-term incumbent Sheriff Al Cannon for setting a bad example for deputies by slapping a handcuffed suspect following a high-speed chase. Cannon was charged with 3rd degree assault in the case.

"One has to question how fit the Sheriff is to lead this agency and set an example for his deputies when he has failed to follow the law himself," Whisenant said. "Sheriff Cannon’s actions are an embarrassment to the community; that kind of behavior opens the county up to serious financial liability.  It sets a tone for the Sheriff’s Office that is completely unacceptable."

Whisenant has also been critical of the Sheriff's Office for not doing enough to serve the roughly 46,000 outstanding warrants. He said he will rearrange the office's staffing to make warrant service a priority.

Whisenant said he would also increase the number of deputies dedicated to tracking and ensuring released sex offenders keep their registration information current in the county's sex offender database.

The 43-year-old Whissenant is a retired Charleston County Master Deputy. He is currently serving as a Chief Warrant Officer with the US Coast Guard Reserve and is an instructor at the federal maritime law enforcement academy.

Cannon's is the only name that will appear on Charleston County ballots for the Sheriff's Office, but voters will have the option to write in any other candidate they wish. Whisenant is hoping a lot of people will take the time to write in his name.