Lively campaign expected in three-way GOP race

By CLIF LeBLANC - cleblanc@thestate.com

The Senate District 23 race has the ingredients that make for spicy political campaigns.

Incumbent Jake Knotts has a reputation as a blunt, bare-knuckled in-fighter with an everyman base and a history of delivering the bacon.

Challengers Katrina Shealy and Mike Sturkie have GOP credentials, especially Shealy, and neither is a wallflower.

Both challengers portray themselves as alternatives to what they say is Knotts’ “my way or the highway” style.

No one has filed as a Democrat, so the winner of the June 10 Republican primary likely will represent the district for the next four years.

The district comprises more than half of Lexington County, largely the central and western portions stretching from Leesville on the west to Springdale on the east. But the district does not include affluent, Lake Murray homes or lower-income, rural tier that reaches to the county line.

Knotts, 63 and seeking a second full term, has built his re-election bid as a campaign against Gov. Mark Sanford and groups aligned with school vouchers.

Knotts, a frequent Sanford critic, said Shealy is the governor’s handpicked candidate.

Knotts has represented the area since April 2002.

Shealy, 53, has been involved in GOP politics nearly 30 years. She worked her way up the party ranks and last year was selected county party chairman.

She said Knotts does not represent an increasingly diverse constituency that has different political views and a new style. She said her backers are tired of Knotts’ positions that reflect poorly on the county.

Sturkie is a first cousin of Lenoir Sturkie, whom Knotts defeated in 1994 for a House seat that Lenoir Sturkie held 12 years.

Mike Sturkie, in his first bid for public office, said he brings a business background to the race. He argues he was solicited to seek the post by friends and business leaders.

Reach LeBlanc at (803) 771-8664.