No surprises with end to filing period

Friday’s noon filing deadline for Hartsville city elections passed quietly with no surprises and no new filers. That means a two-person race for mayor and only one of three City Council seats contested.

In the race for mayor, former council member and former city Finance Director Pam Sansbury will face businessman Mel Pennington. The two are seeking to succeed former Mayor Michael Holt who resigned in August to assume a seat on the state family court bench.

In council District 1, Councilwoman Adlena Graham will face a challenge from Jannie Harriot.

Wanda James will run unopposed for council District 3, as will incumbent Bob Braddock in council District 5.

Even though James and Braddock are running unopposed their names will still appear on the ballot.

The city’s Municipal Election Commission met Friday afternoon and went over election procedures and other items.

Officials pointed out two changes in polling places for this year’s election. Voters in the Kelleytown Precinct will vote at First Presbyterian Church rather than at West Hartsville Elementary School for this election only. Officials said that is because of the small number of city residents who live in that precinct.

Hartsville Precinct 5 voting will move from the National Guard Armory to the Coach T.B. Thomas Sports Center in Byerly Park. Election officials said that the move in permanent and is in response to Homeland Security concerns.

All other election precincts will vote in their usual polling places.

The municipal election is nonpartisan.

Hartsville residents wishing to vote in the Nov. 3 election must be registered to vote by Oct. 3.

To register, contact the Darlington County Board of Voter Registration at 300 Russell St., Room 107, Darlington, or call (843) 398-4900.