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Wednesday Update: School election process gets OK
5/10/2008 | Today's Georgetown Times Online Edition
Published on 3/25/2008
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
Both the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. District Court in Charleston have approved the change in the way Georgetown County School Board members are elected.
Now, it's up to the Georgetown County Legislative Delegation to give the final blessing, which is expected to happen, according to S.C. Rep. Vida Miller (D-Litchfield).
Starting this year, most school board members will be elected by districts rather than at large. The districts that will be used are the seven currently used by Georgetown County Council.
Because there are nine school board members, there will be two at-large seats that will be on the ballot starting in 2010. This year, all seven district seats will be on the ballot, which has the potential of creating one of the most crowded board elections ever in Georgetown County.
The Court, which issued its decision Friday, approved a non-partisan election which had been fought
SEE SCHOOL, Page 4A
against by the Georgetown County Republican Party.
Miller said she and the Delegation have not had a chance to meet since the court ruling was announced. She also said if the Delegation does not act on the matter, it will become law based on the court's decision.
The election change was brought about because the Justice Department threatened the District with a costly lawsuit in an effort to help black candidates get elected to the board. Even though the county's black population stands at 39 percent, no blacks have won a seat since 2000. This change will help blacks get elected in at least three of the districts.
Because of the changes, some of the incumbents will have to run against each other this November.
Both Johnny Wilson and Lynn Freeman live in District 4. Both are seeking reelection. Newcomer Johnel Conyers has also announced he will be running in that district. Elery Little and Scott Hutto both live in Georgetown's Historic District and will both have to run for the District 2 seat. Both are in the middle of a four-year term but because of the changes, one of them will not get to complete that term. Whoever wins in November will serve for the remaining two years and will have to run again in 2010.
Sarah Elliott is seeking reelection for her seat. She lives in Murrells Inlet, which is District 1. Incumbent Bob Jewell also lives in that district but is not seeking another term.
Incumbents Benny Elliott and Jim Dumm hold the two at-large seats and will not be on the ballot until 2010.
So far, two newcomers have filed as Democrats for a board seat but will have to refile with the County Board of Elections in August to be on the ballot in November.
Former Plantersville Elementary School Principal Dr. Arthur Lance Jr., who lives in District 7 and Sandra Johnson, who lives in District 3 have officially announced.
Two other District 7 residents, Reggie Wright and Keith Moore, told the Georgetown Times Tuesday they will be on the ballot.
Filing for the school board race begins Aug. 1.
