A 2014 Stratford graduate waged a successful, albeit last-minute, write-in campaign to secure a seat on the Soil and Water Commission.
Phillip Habib, 20, of Goose Creek is a junior at Wofford College, but he will be coming back to Berkeley County every fourth Tuesday of the month to sit on the commission. Habib got 463 write-in votes during the general election Nov. 8. His next closest opponent, Charles Glover, received 148 votes. In all, voters wrote in 5,228 names for the open spot on the ballot. This was Habib’s first run for public office, but he’s worked with the county’s soil and water district before. Habib’s campaign began about a week before the election when he was filling out his absentee ballot and noticed the commission seat had only a write-in option. “Why is this happening?” Habib recalled thinking. He said he called the chairman of the Soil and Water commission and he was told that a commissioner declined to participate in this year’s election, leaving the spot on the ballot open. “I decided why not me? Why not now? So I did it and here I am,” Habib said. He launched a Facebook page and “it caught on like wildfire,” he said. “People shared all of my posts,” Habib said. “I was actually very surprised at how many votes I got. I did not think I would get that many.” Habib said his platform is based on balance: continue to grow industry but also preserve Berkeley County’s natural beauty. “I’m excited to serve the people of Berkeley county and make sure we remain the beautiful county that we are,” he said. Habib is in environmental studies at college — something he hopes will help him serve his new constituents well. “I’ll be able to implement the things I’m learning in the classroom.” With all precincts reporting, unofficial results show the parks and libraries bond referendum has passed and the referendum on the town's form of government has failed.
The "yes" vote on the bond has remained at about 60 percent of the vote most of the night, with the final tally at 26, 346 in favor and 17,021 against. The referendum on Summerville's form of government is at 57 percent to retain the town's strong-council form, with 6,084 voting in favor of a change to strong-mayor and 8,153 voting to keep the strong-council form. Read the full article here: http://www.journalscene.com/news/election-dorchester-county-results/article_1267fb60-a5d3-11e6-9bfe-4fdf301776bf.html The Charleston tri-county area will have some new faces in the Statehouse, but only the House District 114 seat in West Ashley appears to be changing parties.
In unofficial results, with all precincts reporting, Republican Lin Bennett, former chairwoman of the Charleston County GOP, led the District 114 race with 57 percent of the vote. Democrat Bob Aubin, a social justice advocate, had 43 percent. The district stretches from West Ashley into Dorchester County and previously has been held by Democrat Mary Tinkler. There were four contested House races in Charleston County. In the House District 110 race, with 23 of 23 precincts reporting, Republican William Cogswell Jr. was in the lead with 65 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. Democrat Alice Wakefield, a retired university professor, had 35 percent. The district covers parts of Mount Pleasant and Charleston and came open after Republican state Rep. Chip Limehouse announced his retirement. In the House District 116 race, with 15 out of 15 precincts reporting, Democrat Robert L. Brown, who also ran as a Working Families Party candidate, had 54 percent of the vote in unofficial results. Republican Carroll O'Neal of Johns Island had 46 percent. The district covers lower Charleston County into Colleton County. In House District 119, Democrat Leon Stavrinakis, who has held the seat since 2006, had 61 percent of the vote in unofficial results with all precincts reporting. Republican Lee Edwards of West Ashley, who has served on the St. Andrews Public Service District Commission, among other government posts, had 39 percent. The district includes parts of West Ashley and Johns Island. There were two contested Berkeley County House races. In House District 15, with 8 of 9 precincts reporting, pastor and two-term incumbent Republican Samuel Rivers Jr. had 63 percent of the vote in unofficial results. Democratic challenger K.J. Kearney had 37 percent. The district is centered around Goose Creek but includes parts of Charleston County. In House District 100, with 20 of 21 precincts reporting, Republican Sylleste Davis, a Santee Cooper retiree has 67 percent of the vote in unofficial results. Democrat Tonia Aiken-Taylor, a Moncks Corner Town Council member, had 33 percent. The seat covers areas from Moncks Corner to Summerville. It was previously held by state Rep. Eddy Southard, who left office earlier this year after being accused of harassment in the Statehouse. Davis won the special election to succeed Southard. There was only one contested House race in Dorchester County. In House District 94, with all 25 precincts reporting, Republican Katie Arrington had 72 percent of the vote in unofficial results. Democratic challenger Damian Daly had 28 percent. Elsewhere, the state will have its first openly gay lawmaker. Republican Jason Elliott of Greenville ran unopposed for the House District 22 seat. And there will be a fourth woman in the state Senate. In the close Senate District 22 race, with 36 of 38 precincts reporting, Democratic incumbent Mia McLeod had 53 percent of the vote in unofficial results. Republican challenger Susan Brill, a Richland County school board member, had 47 percent. The three other women in the Senate are: West Ashley Republican lawyer and newcomer Sandy Senn, who ran unopposed to fill the seat left vacant by retiring Sen. Paul Thurmond, R-Charleston, and incumbent Sens. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, who ran unopposed. |
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December 2016
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