WINNSBORO – Fairfield County polls will be open from 7 a.m.
– 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
State Senator Mike Fanning, House Rep. Annie McDaniel and
Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery all face challengers in the June 9
democratic primary.
Fairfield Clerk of Court Judy Bonds and Fairfield County
Coroner Chris Hill are both running unopposed in the primary.
Senate
Winnsboro’s MaryGail Douglas is running against Fanning in
Tuesday’s primary for the Senate seat. Douglas previously served six years in
the House (District 41.) Fanning, a resident of Great Falls is finishing out
his first term in the Senate representing Fairfield and parts of Chester and
York Counties.
House
Democrat Charlene Herring is challenging Annie McDaniel for
the House District 41 in the primary. Herring served 12 year as mayor of
Ridgeway and is on the Board of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce. McDaniel is
completing her first two-year term in the House. She previously served 18 years
on the Fairfield County School Board.
Sheriff
Sheriff Will Montgomery, who has served six years as
Fairfield County Sheriff, has one challenger in the primary, Ed Jenkins. No
republicans are running in that race.
Unopposed
Bonds, clerk of court, and Hill, coroner and Sheriff Will Montgomery are all three running unopposed.
Montgomery
Bonds
Hill
Elections Delays
The rescheduled general elections for the Town of Ridgeway
and Town of Jenkinsville residents will be held on Tuesday, July 14. The
Ridgeway election will seat two town council members, and the Jenkinsville
election will seat two town council members and the mayor, according to Fairfield
County Voter Registration Director Debby Stidham.
Stidham said her office will accept absentee applications
only until Friday. Absentee ballots for the primary will be accepted through
Tuesday.
For information about candidates, elections or voting, call
Fairfield County Voter Registration at 803-635-6255.
I know District 41 and will fight for it because Fairfield
is home. I am a lifelong resident of Fairfield County and educated by our
public schools. I am a proud alumna of the University of South Carolina where I
earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in
Accounting and my Master’s Degree in Public Administration. I also completed two Ph.D. level education
administration courses in Finance while earning my Master’s Degree.
I know the value of education and the love our teachers pour
into our children. In 2000, I was elected to and served 18 years as a member of
the Fairfield County School District Board of Trustees, fighting for our
children, teachers, and public schools. During my tenure on the School Board, I
was elected to the State School Boards Association Board and served locally as
Board Chair, Secretary, Finance Committee Chair, Student Hearing Committee
member, and Delegate to the SCSBA Delegate Assembly. My work and experience
with students, parents, and teachers fundamentally impacted how I view public
service.
This experience served as a backdrop for my 2018 campaign to
represent District 41 in the South Carolina State House. With a rich background
serving in the field of education, you allowed me to expand my service and
tackle the challenges we face as a community in the fields of healthcare,
economic empowerment, environmental protection, and quality of life. I am proud of the blessings my constituents
have received as a result of my service to District 41.
In November of 2018, I was elected to the SC General
Assembly. My 2018 bid was historic
because I became the first African American since reconstruction, and the only
African American woman to represent District 41. This history has been humbling
and has inspired me to fight for ALL South Carolinians. Our destiny as a State
and District are truly tied together as one and I am committed to ensuring that
our destiny is bright!
During my first year in office, noteworthy accomplishments
included being the first freshman legislator to get a bill passed (E-Rate
expansion) and my appointment as a SC State Director for the National Women in
Government Organization. Additionally, I serve on the Medical, Military,
Public, and Municipal Affairs Committee.
I would be honored to receive your support on June 9th. The
Governor recently signed a bill allowing no excuse absentee voting during this
primary. I encourage you to visit
scvotes.org to request an absentee ballot and vote now through June 8th. You
may also absentee vote in-person through June 8th at Midlands Technical
College’s Fairfield Campus.
I am proud of the work I have accomplished thus far and am dedicated to continuing to fight for you and your families.
Challenger Charlene Herring
A Voice for Education, Business, Towns and Cities
As a lifelong
educator, small business entrepreneur and former mayor, I am now a candidate
for SC House District 41 which encompasses Chester, Fairfield and Richland
Counties.
The pandemic does not care if we are Democrat or Republican.
We are all in this together and my mission is to be our voice for education,
business and towns and cities in the new “normal”. It will require a flexible
vision as well as creative and collaborative problem solving strategies to
recover our economy.
America was built and will survive this pandemic on the
backs of business and industry, but continued assistance must come from all
levels of government and in different formats. I am a small business owner
myself, a member of the Board of Directors of the Fairfield County Chamber of
Commerce and a former three-term mayor of Ridgeway. I had the opportunity to lead the initiative
for accelerated business growth in our community. I understand the value of a team approach and
the necessity to develop strong partnerships to assist small businesses in
re-inventing themselves through training, business start-ups, e-commerce and
monetary incentives.
My passion for education is evident. I have been recognized
early in my profession as a SC State Teacher of the Year Finalist. I want to
use my extensive and successful career experience in public education, both
teaching and administration, to make some real improvements in the way we
educate our children. I plan to visit classrooms and schools to see and hear
firsthand the prevalent needs of educators and students. I want to engage the public and to work
personally to support the implementation of teacher retention strategies as
well as the accessibility of broadband internet service for all students at
home.
Regarding towns and cities, I will work to secure reliable
funding levels through legislation concerning the Local Government Fund so
government entities can continue to provide the needed services of safety,
health care, infrastructure, recreation and cultural activities for their
citizens. I will support local and fiscal accountability and management of
resources that are critical to serving citizens and governing efficiently and
effectively.
I am prepared to bring a lifetime of public service and
merge it with my strong work ethic to make the quality of life better for all
of us in House District 41. I can do it if you will give me the opportunity.
