L.C. Knight Thumps Turner for Sheriff

There's a second term coming for Sheriff L.C. Knight — continuing the family tradition.

According to the Knight campaign, Knight has defeated his Republican opponent Mike Turner in Tuesday's primary. Knight took office in 2008, and his father was sheriff of the county 1959 to 1988.

As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, Knight had more than 60 percent of the vote with 65 of 74 precincts reporting. At 9:30 p.m., Turner told Patch he has conceded defeat.

Less than 12 percent of voters turned out Tuesday. With 74 of 74 precincts reporting in Dorchester County, Knight scored 61.44 percent of the vote. Turner fell at 38.34 percent. The finally tally of voters voting for the race was 9,989, with Knight recieving 6,159 of those votes.

The campaign was a slog that lasted more than a year, with billboards proclaiming candidate names for at least that long. 

Turner formerly worked under the sheriff who preceded Knight — Sheriff Ray Nash, whose last year in office was plagued with controversey. 

Knight out-raised Turner . 

In the two seats on Dorchester County Council opposed in this Republican primary, both incumbents have come out with the win. Dorchester County Council Chair Larry Hargett has defeated challenger John Hull with more than 60 percent of the vote, and Councilman Bill Hearn has defeated challenger Roger Goodman with more than 68 percent of the vote with 74 of 74 precincts reporting.

Hearn will go on to face Democratic challenger Miriam Birdsong in the fall. Knight and Hargett are unopposed in the fall. 

Updated 9:25 p.m. to add County Council information.