Two Marion County-based officials could be heading toward a political showdown for a 2012 state senate seat.
Marion Mayor Rodney Berry said he is thinking of running for the District 30 seat, challenging Democrat Sen. Kent Williams. The district encompasses all of Marion County in addition to a portion of Dillon and east Florence counties.
“I understand that anyone that would consider running would have to make a decision sometime next year,” Berry said, declining to elaborate.
If elected to senate, Berry would have to vacate the Marion mayor’s seat. According to the South Carolina Constitution, no person may hold two offices of honor or profit at the same time.
Primaries will be June 12. Filing opens in less than three months, on March 16.
Berry was elected mayor in April 2009, defeating Nancy Harrelson as a write-in candidate. Marion Mayor Bobby Gerald was seeking his seventh re-election to the post when he died of a heart attack a month before the election.
The Dillon native is a longtime Marion County businessman and was hired as the Marion County Economic Development Director in October 2008.
Williams said he intends to seek re-election and will make a formal announcement in the near future.
“I’m proud of the accomplishments we’ve made over the years,” Williams said. “The job is about building relationships and we’re in a position now to do great things. Several people in this area have been appointed to important leadership positions since I’ve been in office.”
Williams, a Centenary native, won a hard-fought battle, defeating incumbent Maggie Glover for the District 30 seat in 2004. He was the first Marion County native to hold the position in 25 years. He won his re-election bid with a victory over challenger Levone Graves in the 2008 primary.
The former Marion County Board of Education chairman has served as Marion County Deputy Administrator since 1999.
Williams said he’s excited about the future and the past seven years have placed him in a better position in regard to seniority.
“I’m heading into my eighth year in legislative sessions but from the first day I’ve hit the ground running for my constituents,” he said.
When asked about the possible challenge from Berry, Williams didn’t offer a direct response.
“The seat doesn’t belong to me; it belongs to the people. And we let the people decide,” he said.
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