Changes afoot in Lexington County GOP primary

Lexington County Council members Jim Kinard and Kent Collins lost their re-election bids Tuesday as voters, some angered by plans for a new roads tax, voiced their desire for change in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

Kinard trailed through much of the night to newcomer Scotty Whetstone, who campaigned on a platform of improving schools, providing better wages to workers and helping law enforcement agencies. The seat represents the Swansea-Gaston-Pelion area of the county.

Collins’ successor wasn’t immediately determined, but he was far behind two newcomers vying for his seat.

Challengers Darrell Hudson and Brad Matthews, a former county council member, are headed for a runoff in two weeks. They were the top vote-getters for the Lexington-Lake Murray council seat. Incumbent Collins and challenger Colin Thain trailed the field for that council seat, according to preliminary election results.

A runoff between Erin Long Bergeson and Dino Teppara for the Irmo-Chapin seat on council also will be held. They outdistanced challengers Ronald Derrick and Benjamin Stiteley, but neither won enough votes to secure the Republican nomination outright.

The race for the Irmo-Chapin seat resulted because long-time incumbent Johnny Jeffcoat chose not to seek re-election.

The most hotly contested race of the night occurred for the seat in the Red Bank area. Incumbent Bobby Keisler won by a razor thin margin over challenger Brian Duncan.

One seat that didn’t change on County Council was the one held by Debbie Summers. She easily defeated challenger Gene Wilbur for the Springdale-Oak Grove seat.

Summers, a 12-year council member, said she’s grateful for the support in her district, but was surprised that Kinard would lose the Swansea-area seat.

“I’m hoping my hard work over 12 years is what made the difference,’’ she said. “Jim Kinard was an excellent representative of his district and super contributor to county council. So I don’t know what happened there.’’

In other county races, coroner Margaret Fisher easily defeated opponent Glenn Ross.

But change is coming in the Clerk of Court and Register of Deeds offices, where incumbents Beth Carrigg and Debbie Gunter chose not to seek re-election.

In the race for Clerk of Court, Lisa Comer and Emily Hinson are headed for a runoff. They outdistanced Mollie Taylor for the post. Tina Guerry and Rich Bolen are headed for a runoff for the Register of Deeds position. They outdistanced Mike Green, Dan Gregory and Joyce Munsch.

Some of the changes on County Council may be because of voter outrage about a new penny tax under discussion for several years.

Many challengers were unhappy with council’s handling of what critics call a flawed tax plan voters had rejected 2-1 during a 2014 referendum — and for considering another try at approval of a revised version this year. The council later backed off of the plan.

With federal and state aid dwindling, supporters say the tax is the only way to make many long-wanted road improvements happen soon.

Some challengers suggest a look instead at refinancing debt and additional fees on new development to help make roads safer and less congested.

This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Changes afoot in Lexington County GOP primary."