Here’s who is running for Richland County Council in 2022
Two Republican Richland County Council incumbents chose not to seek re-election, and a former county council member is vying to get his former position back.
Filing for Richland County Council elections closed at noon Wednesday. Five of the 11 seats on the council are up for election this year. Unlike city races, positions on Richland County Council are partisan. Primaries are on June 14, and the general election is Nov. 8.
Here are the candidates who filed to run for county council:
District 1 — Longtime Republican County Councilman Bill Malinowski did not file to seek re-election in District 1. A steadfast conservative, Malinowski was first elected to council in 2006. District 1 is in the far northwest portion of the county and includes Irmo and Ballentine. The only person who filed to run for the District 1 seat this year is Jason Branham, who is an attorney and the chairman of the county’s planning commission.
District 4 —Longtime Democratic District 4 County Councilman Paul Livingtson has filed to seek another term. He was first elected to council in 1990. He will face a primary challenge from Democrat Booker T. Little. District 4 is in the western central portion of Richland County.
District 5 —Democratic County Councilwoman Allison Terracio filed to seek re-election in District 5. She is the only person to file in that race. District 5 in the central part of the county in downtown Columbia.
District 6 — Incumbent District 6 Councilman Joe Walker III, a Republican, did not file to seek re-election. Walker announced last week he wouldn’t be running again. Walker held the seat for one term, and Republican Greg Pearce previously had the seat for 20 years. Republican Don Weaver and Democrat Bryan Ford Boroughs have signed up to seek the District 6 post. District 6 is in the south central portion of the county.
District 11 — This race will feature a rematch. Incumbent Democratic District 11 Councilwoman Chakisse Newton has filed to run again. Meanwhile, Democrat Norman Jackson, who previously held the District 11 seat for a number of years, also signed up to run. Newton handily defeated Jackson in a 2018 Democratic primary. Also running for the District 11 seat will be Democrat Eva Young Prioleau. District 11 comprises central and southeastern parts of the county.
