Filing period for county offices drawing near

By: Jim Faile | SCNow
Published: March 05, 2010

It’s March, and in a little more than a week from now, filing will begin for the 2010 Democratic and Republican party primaries for an array of offices at the federal, state and local level.

So far, most of the attention has focused on races for South Carolina governor and some of the state constitutional offices.

South Carolina voters will also elect a U.S. Senator and U.S. House members this year.

Here at home, included in the mix of offices up for grabs this year are four seats on Darlington County Council, three local S.C. House seats and Darlington County Probate Judge.

The two-week filing period for party primaries opens at noon March 16 and will remain open until noon March 30. The primaries take place on June 8.

Voters in Darlington County Council districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 will elect council members this year. Currently, the District 2 seat is held by Dannie Douglas of Society Hill, a Democrat. District 4 is represented by Democrat Anne Warr of Lamar. Democrat Mozella “Pennie” Nicholson of Hartsville holds the District 6 seat, and Republican Wesley Blackwell is the District 8 representative.

County voters will also elect a probate judge. Democrat Marvin Lawson of Darlington currently holds that position.

At the state legislative level, all 124 S.C. House seats are up for election this year. Darlington County voters will help fill three of those seats. House district 56 is currently represented by Rep. Denny Neilson, Democrat of Darlington, while the District 62 seat is held by Democratic Rep. Robert Williams of Darlington and District 65 by Rep. Jay Lucas, Republican of Hartsville.

Darlington County Board of Education elections are in November, but those are nonpartisan elections and are not included in the primary process.

Already some interest has been expressed in possible bids for some council seats. The next few weeks could prove interesting as candidate filing proceeds.

The primaries and the general election are your opportunity to influence public policy decisions that will affect the quality of life in your community possibly for years to come.

The last day to register to vote in the primaries is May 8.

If you’re not registered, register now at the Darlington County Office of Voter Registration and Elections at 131 Cashua St. in Darlington. Call the office at (843) 398-4900 if you have questions about registering.

Your right to vote is precious. Don’t take it for granted. Protect it. Exercise it.