Hulon wins Dillon County sheriff’s post
Major Hulon became Dillon County’s first new sheriff in 21 years after he defeated petition candidate Douglas “Humbunny” Pernell after Tuesday’s general election.
OUR ELECTION COVERAGE
Coverage from the Morning News and WBTW News13, The Weekly Observer and the Star & Enterprise:
- Election by the numbers
- Horry voters say ‘yes’ to the penny
- Horry County election update
- Boone re-elected as Florence County sheriff
- Fowler to keep Florence County treasurer’s seat
- Incumbents lead S.C. House 60, 63 races
- Voters OK Sunday alcohol sales in Florence, deny them in Lake City
- Williams-Blake, Willis lead Florence city council races
- Wukela wins Florence mayoral race
- Williamsburg opens floodgates for Obama
- Mullins, Nichols get new mayors
- Hulon wins Dillon County sheriff’s post
- Marlboro County passes school bond referendum
OUR STORIES IN PICTURES
See our stories in pictures from the Morning News, WBTW News13 and scnow.com photographers:
- Slide Show: Wukela Celebrates at Michael’s on the Loop
- Slide Show: Florence Mayoral candidate Rocky Pearce on election night
- Slide Show: The Florence County Sheriff’s race
- Slide Show: Election in the Pee Dee
- Slide Show: Election day on the Grand Strand
OTHERS’ STORIES
Read coverage from around the area:
- Myrtle Beach Online: Incumbents leading in Horry County Council races
- Myrtle Beach Online: Rankin to hold onto state senate seat
- From Georgetown Times: Charlton, Johnson, Beard win county council
- From the Star News: Republicans sweep Brunswick school board seats
STATE & NATION
- Obama makes history; turns to sobering challenges
- McCain concedes, acknowledges historic achievement
- Democratic majorities stronger, tougher
- Brown re-elected to US House from SC 1st District
Hulon earned 8,198 votes to Pernell’s 5,096.
Hulon couldn’t be reached for comment by press time Tuesday.
Pernell, a 22-year-veteran of the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, officially entered the race in July after more than 5 percent of the registered voters in Dillon County signed a petition form in support of him. Five percent is the minimum number of signatures a person must get before he or she can be approved as a petition candidate.
Pernell said in an earlier report he decided to run against Hulon not because Grice lost the election, but because being sheriff is something he always wanted to do.
Pernell also couldn’t be reached for comment by press time Tuesday.
Hulon defeated incumbent Dillon Sheriff Harold Grice in June’s Democratic primary to become that party’s nominee for the post.
“This is something that’s been a dream of mine for many years,” Hulon said in an earlier report. “I was born and raised in Dillon County. I love law enforcement.”
Hulon is a retired S.C Department of Natural Resources game warden who works as the project coordinator for the Northeastern Technical College continuing education program.
Hulon, 56, said he decided to wait several years to pursue his goal of being Dillon County Sheriff because he did not want to run against Grice.
Hulon’s father once worked for Grice as a deputy.
Hulon said he had too much respect for the incumbent to run against him. But he said he decided to continue his campaign even after Grice said he would seek re-election. Hulon said he did this because he had made a promise to his supporters that he wouldn’t drop out of the race.
As sheriff, Hulon said he will bring some changes to the office.
“My No. 1 priority is to work as hard as I can to fight against illegal drugs,” he said. “Everywhere I go in my community people are very concerned about that. I hope in four years people can say we have less of a problem than when we started, that’s my hope and my desire.”
Reader Reactions
Great job also Dillon! Hulon will be a great sheriff. He is bringing some great/skilled officers to your department. You did Florence a favor…you just don’t know! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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