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Tag: SC House District 41

  • SC House District 41 candidates have their say

    • Annie McDaniel
    • Charlene Herring
    SC Rep. Annie E. McDaniel

    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.

    Please visit HerringforSCHouseDistrict41.website or my Facebook page for more information.

  • Bell, Gilbert win County Council seats

    No surprises in school, Dist. 41 races

    WINNSBORO – Even though Fairfield County logged an impressive 61.24 percent voter turnout Tuesday, there was little evidence that voters were looking for a change in the direction of the county’s governments.

    All the county council and school district incumbents were returned to their seats with the exception of County Councilman Dan Ruff (District 1) who was edged out by Moses Bell with 651 votes (53.98 percent) to Ruff’s 546 votes (45.27 percent). There were nine write-in votes (.75 percent).

    In county council races, the other new face to emerge from Tuesday’s election is Clarence Gilbert who replaces District 7’s County Council Chairman Billy Smith. Smith, who announced in June that he would not seek re-election after his term ends on Dec. 31, said he will be moving to Baton Rouge, LA where his wife, Rachel, is a professor at Louisiana State University.

    Gilbert, with 400 votes (40.77 percent), bested two opponents – Lisa Brandenburg with 356 votes (36.16 percent) and Jana Childers with 197 votes (20.08 percent). There were 29 write-in votes (2.96 percent).

    Incumbent Mikel Trapp, Sr. retained his District 3 county council seat with 618 votes (58.19 percent) over challenger Peggy Swearingen’s 439 votes (41.34 percent). There were five write-in votes (.47 percent) in that race.

    Incumbent Doug Pauley, District 5, won by the largest margin of all the county council candidates with 586 votes (66.47 percent) over Matthew Seibles, Jr. with 304 votes (33.97 percent) and five write-in votes (.56 percent).

    In the school board election, all four incumbents were returned to their seats.

    Incumbent Sylvia Harrison, District 1, captured 796 votes (65.89 percent) to turn back her challenger, Elliott Qualls with 397 votes (32.86 percent) and 15 write-in votes (1.24 percent).

    With 621 votes (56.20 percent), District 7 school board incumbent Darreyl Davis fought off opponent Herb Rentz who had 470 votes (42.53 percent). It was the second time this year Davis and Rentz had run for the seat. Davis defeated Rentz in February in a bid to serve out the last few months of Board Chairwoman Beth Reid’s term that was cut short by her death last winter.  There were 14 write-in votes in the Tuesday race.

    School board incumbents for District 3, Henry Miller, and District 5, Carl Jackson, were challenged only by write-ins. Miller received 773 votes (98.36 percent) with 13 write-in votes (1.65 percent), and Jackson received 756 votes (97.95 percent) with 16 write-in votes (2.05 percent).

    McDaniel

    In the race for the District 41 House seat currently held by MaryGail Douglas who was defeated by Annie McDaniel in the June Democratic Primary, McDaniel received 5,923 votes (74.63 percent) to United Citizen’s candidate Fred Kennedy’s 1,941 votes (24.46 percent). There were 73 write-in votes (.92 percent) in the race.

    Sixth Circuit Solicitor Randy Newman, Jr. was unopposed Tuesday, taking 4,563 votes (97.42), with 121 write-in votes.

    Claudia Dean won the race for the Rocky Creek Watershed, with 40 votes (50.63 percent) over William Wishert with 37 votes (46.84 percent).

    In uncontested county races:

    County Treasurer Norma Branham, 7,975

    County Auditor Peggy Hensley, 7,682

    Probate Judge Pam Renwick, 7,793

    Soil and Water District Commission, Eric Cathcart, 4,422

    Jackson Mill Watershed and Wateree Creek Watershed – Write-in results not available at press time.

    All results are unofficial until certified by the County Election Commission Friday morning.

  • Kennedy files for District 41

    WINNSBORO – Fred Kennedy, 65, of Winnsboro has filed to run for the House of Representatives, District 41, the seat currently held by MaryGail Douglas.

    A member of the United Citizens Party, Kennedy said his platform for the office is aimed at building up the Fairfield community, to improve housing and help people get jobs. He said that is also his goal in his work through his church, Man Up Ministries.

    “One of the problems is there is not a father leader in many of our families here in Fairfield. I believe if we can get to the man of the house, we can save the family,” Kennedy said.

    “There are some crucial issues that must be addressed in this community,” Kennedy said. “And you have to be a part of the community, to really know what people need, if you are going to help them. I grew up in this community. I live here, and I believe I can help my fellow community members.”

    A retired truck driver, Kennedy works for a construction company under the South Carolina Housing Authority that provides home maintenance and equipment (new roofs, floor repairs, heating and air conditioning units, etc.) for homeowners who make less than $20,000 annually and who can’t otherwise afford them.

    “We help provide those things,” Kennedy said. “That’s what I want to do for the people of Fairfield County who need a helping hand. Help them get what they need.” He said he wants to see the county and its people prosper.

    Kennedy is the father of two adult children. His daughter Chrishonda Baker is a computer science teacher at Fairfield Central High School. His son, Kenard, is a truck driver.

    Kennedy is running against Annie McDaniel who won the Democratic primary last month over Douglas.

  • McDaniel wins House Dist. 41 primary

    Annie McDaniel

    WIINNSBORO – The South Carolina House District 41 seat turned over in Tuesday’s election with School Board Trustee Annie McDaniel taking the win over incumbent MaryGail Douglas in Fairfield, Chester and Richland Counties.

    With 2,483 votes (56.66%) to Douglas’s 1,899 votes (43.34%), McDaniel handily took western Fairfield County, both precincts (Kelly Mill and Lake Carolina) in Richland County and all but three in Chester County. Douglas took Chester precincts Baldwin Mill and Eureka Mill and split Chester Ward 4 for a 50-50 tie with McDaniel. In Fairfield, Douglas easily took Lebanon, most of Winnsboro and most of the upper Northeast part of the county and Lake Wateree.

    Fairfield County had a 27.39 percent voter turnout, higher than either Chester or Richland Counties. In the race for District 41, 4,382 votes were cast.

    Neither Douglas nor McDaniels could be reached for comment before press time.