Race-by-Race Info for 2012 General Election

Dorchester County Council District 4 (precincts: Coosaw, Coosaw 2, Kings Grant, Kings Grant 2, Lincoln, Oakbrook, Patriot, Windsor)

• Unopposed GOP incumbent Councilman Larry Hargett. Hargett currently serves as chair on county council. 

Dorchester County Council District 5 (precincts: Dorchester, Dorchester 2, Sawmill Branch, Newington, Newington 2, Greenwave, Flowertown 2, Tupperway, Tupperway 2, Germantown, Central 2, Central)

• Unopposed GOP candidate Carroll Duncan. Duncan was unopposed in the June primary, and is seeking her first term on council. 

Dorchester County Council District 6 (precincts: Knightsville, Cypress, Clemson, Clemson 2, Clemson 3, Butternut, Dorchester, North Summerville)

• Incumbent GOP Councilman Bill Hearn. Hearn has served on council for seven years as councilman for District 2, and is now serving his first term as councilman for District 6. He said council has been working dilligently to curb costs. Click here for more.
• Petition challenger Miriam Birdsong. Birdsong is a Democrat, but was swept off the ballot during the state's ballot debacle earlier this year. She supports impact fees and looking at ways to improve roads around the county. Click here to learn more. 

Dorchester County Seats (all 74 precincts)

• Sheriff: Unopposed incumbent Sheriff L.C. Knight. Click here to read more about his views during a previous Coffee with the Candidates.
• Treasurer: Unopposed incumbent Mary Pearson
• Clerk of Court: Unopposed incumbent Cheryl Graham
• Coroner: Unopposed incumbent Chris Nisbet
• Solicitor Circuit 1: Unopposed incumbent David Pascoe
• Auditor: Unopposed incumbent J.J. Messervy 
• Probate judge: Unopposed incumbent Mary Blunt
• Register of deeds: Unopposed incumbent Margaret Bailey 
• Soil and water district commission: Unopposed candidate Robert Long

Dorchester County School District Two School Board (precincts: Givhans, Givhans 2, Ridgeville 2, Cypress, Clemson, Clemson 2, Clemson 3, Flowertown, Flowertown 2, Butternut, Knightsville, Delemars, Saul Dam, Coastal, Coastal 2, Coastal 3, Trolley, Tranquil, Beech Hill, Germantown, Greenwave, Newington, Newington 2, Carolina, Bacons Bridge, North Summerville, North Summerville 2, Archdale, Stallsville, Spann, Tupperway, Tupperway 2, Irongate, Greenhurst, Ashborough East, Ashborough West, Ashborough East 2, Ashborough West 2, Ashley River, Windsor, Bacons Bridge, Brandymill, Briarwood, Central, Central 2, Coosaw, Coosaw 2, Miles Jamison, Kings Grant, Kings Grant 2, Lincoln, Sawmill Branch, Oakbrook, Patriot, Archdale, Archdale 2, Dorchester, Dorchester 2, Irongate, Irongate 2, Irongate 3)

• Harry Blake. Blake is a former school board member, and is vying to get back on the board. He is an Allstate agent. One of his top issues is to address overcrowding in schools. Click here to read more in a survey taken by Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.
• Sam Clark. Clark won a poll of debate attendees for his arguments.
• Barbara Crosby. Crosby has served on the school board and is a retired educator. Crosby wants to further decline dropout rates in the district and help the district handle growth by passing of the school bond referendum. Click here to read her blog posting on Patch on why you should vote for her.
• David Dubose. Dubose is a veteran and a father of two Dorchester Two children. He has said overcrowding and the need for more facilities are at the top of his concerns for the district. Click here to read more in a survey taken by Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.
• Justin Farnsworth. Farnsworth is a veteran and currently works in financial transactions. He has said two of the top issues in Dorchester Two is growth and increasing the graduation rate. Click here to read his blog posting on Patch on why you should vote for him. Click here to visit his website.
• Louis Smith. Smith has been active in the community and most recently organized a candlelight vigil against violence in Summerville. He has asked for more accountability from the parents, and supports the school bond referendum. 
• Lisa Tupper. Tupper has served on the school board and has been in the business and school community here for more than 20 years. Tupper said growth and increasing the graduation rate top her list of priorities. Click here to learn more about Tupper in a survey by Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

Click here to watch a debate between the school board candidates.

Note: all school board candidates support the $179 million bond referendum

Dorchester County School District Two School Bond Referendum (precincts: Givhans, Givhans 2, Ridgeville 2, Cypress, Clemson, Clemson 2, Clemson 3, Flowertown, Flowertown 2, Butternut, Knightsville, Delemars, Saul Dam, Coastal, Coastal 2, Coastal 3, Trolley, Tranquil, Beech Hill, Germantown, Greenwave, Newington, Newington 2, Carolina, Bacons Bridge, North Summerville, North Summerville 2, Archdale, Stallsville, Spann, Tupperway, Tupperway 2, Irongate, Greenhurst, Ashborough East, Ashborough West, Ashborough East 2, Ashborough West 2, Ashley River, Windsor, Bacons Bridge, Brandymill, Briarwood, Central, Central 2, Coosaw, Coosaw 2, Miles Jamison, Kings Grant, Kings Grant 2, Lincoln, Sawmill Branch, Oakbrook, Patriot, Archdale, Archdale 2, Dorchester, Dorchester 2, Irongate, Irongate 2, Irongate 3)

The referendum will ask:

Shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County, South Carolina, be authorized to issue and sell, either at one time as a single issue or from time to time as several separate issues, general obligation bonds of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $179,910,000, the proceeds of which shall be applied to defray costs of issuance of such bonds and the costs of:

a. the design, construction, equipping and furnishing of three elementary schools and a middle school of the arts;

b. renovations, repairs, expansions, equipment and furnishings at Eagle Nest Elementary, Flowertown Elementary, Newington Elementary, Oakbrook Elementary, Summerville Elementary, Alston Middle, Oakbrook Middle, Ashley Ridge High, Fort Dorchester High and Summerville High; and

c. capital improvements at other facilities of the School District to include conversion of Rollings Middle School of the Arts to office/administrative space, roof repairs, improvements to heating, ventilation and air conditioning and installing wireless throughout the School District

In favor of the question [ ]

Oppose to the question [ ]

Question 2:

In the event that Question 1 above is approved, shall the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County, South Carolina, be further authorized to issue and sell, either at one time as a single issue or from time to time as several separate issues, general obligation bonds of School District No. 2 of Dorchester County in the aggregate principal amount of not exceeding $7,500,000, the proceeds of which shall be applied to defray costs of issuance of such bonds and the costs of designing, constructing, equipping and furnishing an aquatic center?

In favor of the question [ ]

Oppose to the question [ ]

According to district Chief Financial Officer Allyson Duke, a referendum in this amount would create an increase of $84 on a $100,000 house and $25 on a $20,000 car in the county. According to Dorchester County Auditor J.J. Messervy, an owner-occupied home in the limits of Summerville currently pays $685.20 per $100,000, adjusted with property tax relief but not including fees. A non-owner-occupied home in town pays $2,095.20 per $100,000, adjusted with property tax relief but not including fees.

Click here to read about the referendum in a Q&A.

Click here to watch the referendum debated between the campaigns opposing and supporting it.

S.C. House District 97 (precincts: Butternut, Clemson, Clemson 2, Clemson 3, Cypress, Delemars, Flowertown, Flowertown 2, Givhans, Givhans 2 Grover, Indian Field, Indian Field 2, Knightsville, Reevesville, Ridgeville, Ridgeville 2, Rosses, St. George, St. George 2)

• Incumbent Democrat Rep. Patsy Knight. Knight is the former treasurer for Dorchester County. She is a strong proponent of public education and "smart growth" for development. She also stands for "providing accessible and adequate healthcare for hardworking South Carolinians," according to her website. Click here to learn more.
• GOP challenger Ed Carter. Carter is the current board chairman for the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce. He has sought office before for this same seat as a Democrat, but contended it was so he could switch parties once elected and said he is a firm conservative.e wants to do away with current tax structure and begin anew. Click here to learn more.

S.C. House District 114 (precincts: Bacons Bridge, Beech Hill, Beech Hill 2, Delemars, Saul Dam, Ashborough West, Ashborough West 2, Ashborough East 2)

• Incumbent Republican Rep. Bobby Harrell. Harrell has said that since his election in the 1990s he has worked step-by-step to continue to reform the tax system in the state. Harrell is a State Farm owner agent. Click here to learn more.
• Petition candidate John Steinberger. Steinberger is known as "FairTax John" and is a big proponent of the FairTax system, which would eliminate the income tax and replace it with a sales tax to fund state government. He has been a public school teacher for 16 years and is a veteran. Click here to learn more. 
• Green party candidate Larry Center Carter.

S.C. Senate District 38 (precincts: Ashborough East, Ashborough East 2, Bacons Bridge, Beech Hill, Beach Hill 2, Brandymill, Brandymill 2, Briarwood, Briarwood 2, Briarwood 3, Butternut, Central, Central 2, Clemson, Clemson 2, Clemson 3, Coastal, Coastal 2, Coastal 3, Coosaw, Coosaw 2, Cypress, Dorchester 2, Flowertown, Flowertown 2, Givhans 2, Greenhurst, Greenwave, Irongate, Irongate 2, Irongate 3, Knightsville, Lincoln, Miles Jamison, Newington, Newington 2, North Summerville, Oakbrook, Sawmill Branch, Spann, Stallsville, Tranquil, Tranquil 2, Trolley, Tupperway, Tupperway 2, Windsor)

• Unopposed GOP candidate Sean Bennett upset incumbent GOP Sen. Mike Rose during the primary. He is the former chair of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance and currently runs his business Asset Integration Consultants in Summerville. He describes himself as a conservative. Bennett has said he supports comprehensive tax reform. Click here to learn more.

S.C. Senate District 41 (precincts: Archdale, Archdale 2, Ashborough West, Ashborough West 2, Ashley River, Kings Grant, Kings Grant 2, Saul Dam)

• GOP candidate Paul Thurmond.
• Democratic candidate Paul Tinkler. 

Click here to go to the Summerville Election Guide.