Atlantic Beach mayoral election set for January 13

The Atlantic Beach Election Commission met Wednesday to set a date for another mayoral election in the town, the second in weeks in the town. Town councilwoman Retha Pierce won two previous mayoral contests in the town, but election troubles, criminal charges have caused courts to overturn the results.

By: SCNow Staff | SCNow
Published: December 24, 2008

The Atlantic Beach Election Commission met Wednesday at 5 p.m. to set a date for the second mayoral election in the town since Dec. 2.

The date the Election's Commission decided is January 13, 2009.

The results of the November 2007 race between incumbent mayor Irene Armstrong and Councilwoman Retha Pierce were thrown out on appeal after Pierce defeated Armstrong by one vote.

In March, the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office charged Armstrong with several counts of voter bribery and misconduct in office charges following the 2007 race.

Investigators said Armstrong bought votes for herself and her brother, Councilman Jake Evans.

The solicitor also charged Atlantic Beach town manager Marcia Conner with multiple counts of misconduct in office charges for mishandling tax dollars, according to arrest warrants.

Circuit court judge Michael Baxley handed down a ruling that ordered a new election in the town.

The South Carolina Supreme Court upheld Baxley’s decision and the new election took place in the town on Dec. 2.

Part of the ruling to hold the new election was a requirement to leave the ballot as it appeared in the Nov. 2007 race.

Days before the Dec. 2 contest, a campaign to elect mayor pro-tem Charlene Taylor as a write-in candidate gained speed in the town.

Pierce fell one vote shy of winning a majority, plus one to avoid a runoff election.

The second-highest vote getter in the race was Taylor.

Pierce beat Armstrong 32-2 in the race.

Many residents said indicted, former mayor Armstrong was behind the campaign for Taylor in an attempt to keep Pierce out of the mayor’s seat.

On Dec. 12, two Atlantic Beach residents filed a request with the state Supreme Court to issue an injunction in the race and keep write-in candidates off the ballot.

The Supreme Court granted the injunction and ordered only Armstrong and Pierce’s names to appear on the ballot in the next election.

The meeting was held at the Atlantic Beach Community Center located at 1010 32nd Avenue in Atlantic Beach.

The meeting was open to the public.