Challengers line up for Richland County Council seats
Voters in Richland County will have their choice of candidates for county council this year.
Each of the six seats on Richland County Council up for a vote this year will feature multiple challengers vying for the job, including one race for an open seat.
Many of those races will be decided in the state’s June primaries, even as concerns have been raised about whether those elections can go forward in the face of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
The most open race is in District 8 in Northeast Richland, where incumbent councilman Jim Manning is retiring. Three candidates filed to run in the Democratic primary: state employee Wayne Gilbert, who ran against Manning in 2016; local businessman Hamilton Grant; and Columbia attorney and municipal judge Overture Walker. The winner will face Republican Gary Dennis in November.
In District 2, Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson faces a challenge from Derrek Pugh, who works in youth development and has served on the planning commission and zoning board for Blythewood. The winner of the Democratic nomination in District 2 will face Javar Juarez of the Green Party in November.
In District 3, incumbent Yvonne McBride will face Republican challenger Tony Spain. Councilwoman Gwen Kennedy will face Gretchen Barron and Richard Brown in the District 7 Democratic primary. Calvin “Chip” Jackson is seeking re-election in District 9 against three other Democrats: Angela Gary Addison, Jonneika Farr and Jerry Rega. Councilwoman Dalhi Myers faces re-election against Jackie Bush and Cheryl English.
Countywide, Democratic primary voters will also decide some contested races. Coroner Gary Watts will run for re-election against Frank Barron, a former coroner who previously ran for the same office in Lexington County, and Naida Rutherford. Sheriff Leon Lott faces A.V. Strong and Jason Roberts. Jeanette McBride will run unopposed for clerk of court.
This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 6:30 PM.
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