Richland County Board Still Seeking New Elections Director

The Richland County Election Commission is still looking for a new director to lead the county's elections office. 

The board met for almost two hours in a private session Monday to review the only candidate remaining for the position, according to a report from The State.

Three finalists were chosen for the job, but two of them have withdrawn their names. 

The remaining candidate is Howard Jackson, elections director in Orangeburg County.

According to The State, Jackson did not disclose to the board that he was investigated by SLED after he was appointed director in 2008.

No evidence of criminal wrongdoing was found and the case was closed, the report said.

The search for a new director began when Lillian McBride resigned in January — months after an investigation into the cause of long lines and voting machine problems on Election Day.

Dr. Jasper Salmond, a former chair of the Richland School District One Board of Commissioners, is serving as interim director. 

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