Special Election: Five Vie for Richland One At-Large Seat

Voters within Richland School District One's attendance area will choose one of five candidates tomorrow to fill an at-large seat on the school board.

A special election is set for Tuesday to fill the seat left vacant by the . 

The winner of the nonpartisan election will serve the remainder of Scott’s four-year term through 2016. 

Candidates are: Deborah Belton, Doretha A. Bull, Reginald Sims, Pamela Adams and Karen W. Wilson. (Click the links for more information on the candidates.)

Belton, a pastor and former educator, said she is a proven leader who believes all children should have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.

"I believe excellence," said Belton. "I believe in accountability and I believe in an ethical way of ensuring every child gets what they need."

Belton said would also work to ensure open communications between parents, the district and the school board.

She has worked in several positions in education including as a Richland One teacher and principal, and she has led the C.A. Johnson High School School Improvement Council.

Belton is backed by Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, and some presidents from community associations, according to a report from The State.

Hand Middle School teacher Pamela Adams said she is running to work to improve schools and provide wisdom she's gained through 11 years of teaching on how policies actually impact children in the classroom.

"This is the dawn of a new era that requires not only big hearts but broad minds to problem solve," Adams said. "Our board is good and many of our schools are good but we must take our schools from good to great."

Adams has a long list of supporters including Sens. John Courson and Darrell Jackson, Mayor Steve Benjamin, several Richland County Council members and the Richland County Education Association.

Reginald Sims, who has been employed with Richland One for 20 years working with special needs children, said he decided to run for the open seat because he wanted to make a difference in children's lives in a bigger way.

"I've made a big difference in kids lives over many years, but I think I can make a bigger difference on the board," Sims said. 

Sims said he would be more visible in the schools and would be the voice for the district's staff. 

Doretha A. Bull, owner of Doretha's African-American Books & Gifts and a former social worker at the Department of Social Services, is passionate about providing the resources for students to achieve beyond high school.

Bull said she wants to see that all students graduate with the skills to not only create jobs for themselves but for others.

She also said she wants to ensure that there is an equitable division of resources within the district, a topic several candidates share. 

Bull ran unsuccessfully for Superintendent of Education in 2010 and the school board in 2008.

Karen W. Wilson, a former paralegal, said running for the open seat seemed like a natural progression for her.

"I believe a board member should have the ability to see the multidimension vision of the students, teachers, administration and taxpayers," Wilson said on her site. "I am that person. I will be accountable and accessible."

Candidates have addressed a range of issues including school choice, school uniforms, third-grade reading and more. 

School choice, a hot topic in some education circles, was one that seemed to divide candidates.

Adams said she thinks schools need to have options that exploring school choice was something "that we need to look at to be progressive and to be competitive. "

For Wilson, school choice is a "double-edged sword."

"You have to make sure everybody is not picking the same school."

Both Sims and Bull shared a concern over what would happen to schools that families decided to leave for another school.

"What's going to happen to the schools no one chooses?," Bull said. "Our job is to make sure every school we have offers our children the best education."

"You can't do that when you're trying to make schools better than the other. There's nothing wrong with choice but you should make sure every school has equal choice."

Belton said she would want to make sure every school is excellent.

"We need to make sure every school has its ability to produce a sound and great education for every child," she said. 

Where to Vote

View precincts and polling locations in the attached pdf or click here. 

Registered voters who don't know their precinct, can enter their county and name on the S.C. Election Commission website to find their precinct. 

Voters will need to provide one of the following:

• S.C. Driver’s License 
• S.C. DMV Identification Card 
• S.C. Voter Registration Card with a Photo 
• Federal Military ID 
• U.S. Passport 

Polls will be open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Anyone with questions should call the Richland County Elections and Voter Registration office at 803-576-2240.