Hubbard triumphs in solicitor showdown

Rick Hubbard is set to return to the solicitor’s office in Lexington County and surrounding areas in January, this time as chief prosecutor.

Hubbard cruised to victory Tuesday in a Republican runoff match that is the only contest for the position.

He defeated University of South Carolina law school faculty member Candice Lively in a showdown that turned testy at the end.

The pair of former assistant prosecutors competed to succeed Donnie Myers, who is retiring at 71 after serving a state record 40 years as 11th Circuit solicitor. No one else is running for the post.

It was the most prominent among six runoff contests decided in Lexington County, all among Republicans.

For Hubbard, the win is the culmination of a dream that took root during 22 years as an assistant to Myers.

“A campaign is new to me but I prepared for this like I do for a trial, trying to cover every base,” he said. “In the long run, I think people heard my message of experience and paying attention to victims.”

Hubbard, who lives in the Gilbert area, ran as ready to take charge immediately as part of a new generation of county leaders. Sheriff Jay Koon and Coroner Margaret Fisher also recently replaced predecessors in power for four decades.

Hubbard’s campaign was propelled from its start by support from law enforcement leaders and in legal circles, later joined by key legislators.

“I ran against a semi-incumbent,” Lively told The State late Tuesday. “I couldn’t overcome those connections.”

Lively, who lives in the Chapin area, ran as much against Myers as Hubbard.

That strategy sought to capitalize on discontent over Myers’ arrests for three alcohol-related traffic offenses in the past 11 years.

She call Hubbard “Myers 2.0” as part of her political outsider theme, contending her opponent is partly responsible for a backlog of unsettled cases and decisions unpopular with some crime victims.

Her message was spread mostly on social media. Meanwhile, a nearly 4-1 edge in fund-raising allowed Hubbard to air broadcast ads as both visited many neighborhoods and phoned voters.

Endorsements for Lively came mainly from social advocacy groups, such as those opposed to drunken driving, and law enforcement officials in the Grand Strand, where she was a former senior prosecutor.

The runoff occurred after Hubbard fell just short of the more than 50 percent vote total required to win the three-candidate primary ballot June 14. The third-place finisher who was eliminated, Larry Wedekind, supported him.

Hubbard, 51, left a job as an assistant state attorney general to run. Lively, 46, trains prosecutors and police to investigate child abuse.

Lexington County was the focus of the contest since it is home to 83 percent of voters as well as both candidates. But both paid attention to voters in adjoining Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties as well.

Turnout was higher than both campaigns expected, with more than 16,000 ballots cast compared to just more than 28,000 two weeks ago. Overall, there are nearly 205,000 registered voters in the four counties.

This story was originally published June 28, 2016 at 9:47 PM with the headline "Hubbard triumphs in solicitor showdown."