RICHLAND COUNTY, SC — Democratic incumbent Jim Manning was leading Republican challenger Michael Letts with roughly half of the precincts reporting late Tuesday in the hotly contested District 8 County Council race.

One of the biggest issues in the Northeast Richland district was the penny sales tax referendum, with Manning, 56, supporting the tax and Letts, 48, opposing it.

Both candidates worked the polls all day Tuesday, saying they saw heavy voter turnout and technical difficulties at some precincts.

In results from other Richland County Council races, Democrat Torrey Rush was leading Republican Celestine Parker to become County Council’s newest member, representing District 7 in the north central part of the county.

Incumbents Val Hutchinson, Joyce Dickerson and Kevin Washington also led their races late Tuesday.