Pugh defeats Dickerson, incumbents headed to runoffs in tight Richland council races
The final results in Richland County Council races rolled in overnight, after a day of chaotic elections in the county. Several races for county council will lead to runoffs in a few weeks.
Candidate Derrek Pugh defeated incumbent Joyce Dickerson with 50.48% of the vote, or 2,708 votes. Dickerson got 49.52% of the vote, or 2,656 votes.
In district 7, Gwendolyn Davis Kennedy will head into a runoff election with Gretchen Barron. Kennedy earned 41.58% (2,758) of the vote and Barron 36.48% (2,420).
District 8’s Hamilton Grant will compete in a runoff against Overture Walker. Grant raked in 41.86% (2,358) of the vote, while Walker earned 45.85% (2,583).
Incumbent Calvin Chip Jackson earned 49.67% (2,503) of the vote and will compete in a runoff against Jonneika Farr, who got 24.17% (1,218) of the vote.
And in district 10, incumbent Dalhi Myers will run off against challenger Cheryl D. English. Myers earned 43.21% (1,948) and English earned 43.77% (1,973) of the vote.
12:20 a.m.
On an election day that went anything but smoothly for Richland County, voters in three county council face the prospect of doing it all again in two weeks’ time.
With 40% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, first-term councilwoman and current vice chair Dalhi Myers trailed state employee Cheryl English in District 10, covering Lower Richland. English held a narrowly lead, but would face Myers in a runoff on June 23.
Another incumbent councilwoman, Gwen Kennedy led in District 7 in the Dentsville/North Columbia area, but educator Gretchen Barron trailed closely behind with 24% of the precincts reporting. If that result holds, it would lead to another runoff.
In District 8 in Northeast Richland, small businessman Hamilton Grant led in the Democratic race for the nomination for a seat held by Councilman Jim Manning for a decade, before Manning decided to retire last year. But with 16% of the vote reported, Grant was facing a runoff against attorney Overture Walker, with former state employee Wayne Gilbert trailing in a distant third.
Other incumbents were on course to return to county council. In District 2 in St. Andrew and the northern part of the county, incumbent Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson led Blythewood town official Derrek Pugh, potentially paving the way to a fifth term on council.
Councilman Calvin “Chip” Jackson held a strong lead early over three challengers in District 9, in the Pontiac area near the Kershaw County border.
In total, 15 candidates were competing for five seats on Richland County Council, all in the Democratic primary. In District 3, incumbent councilwoman Yvonne McBride didn’t have primary opposition.
The election was marred by long lines at some consolidated polling places across the county, with many still in line when polls closed. The number of precincts was cut in half for this election because many poll workers declined to volunteer during the COVID-19 outbreak. Ballot issues in at least one precinct had poll managers handing out handwritten ballots that otherwise weren’t available for voters.
11:17 p.m.
Not much change in the latest updates. Hamilton Grant has taken a lead in District 8, with 45% of the vote to Overture Walker’s 40% with 16% reporting.
Dalhi Myers continues to trail Cheryl English in District 10, 42% to 45% with 40% of the vote in, the largest percentage of precincts reporting in any council district tonight.
In District 7, Gwen Kennedy has 41% but could still be forced into a runoff against Gretchen Barron, at 34%.
Two other incumbents, Joyce Dickerson and Calvin “Chip” Jackson, continue to lead in their races.
10:11 p.m.
More results coming in now. In District 8, an open seat, Hamilton Grant and Overture Walker are neck and neck with 40% of the vote and exactly 301 votes each with 6% of precincts reporting. Wayne Gilbert trails at 18%.
In District 10, first-term incumbent Dalhi Myers trails Cheryl English, 46% to 40% with 34% of precincts reporting.
In District 2, incumbent Joyce Dickerson is leading Blythewood town official Derrek Pugh 54% to 46%, with 28% of results in.
In District 7, Gretchen Barron has overtaken Richard Brown for 2nd place. Kennedy continues to lead with 40% with just 16% of the vote in.
In District 9, incumbent Calvin Jackson has a strong lead over three challengers with 62% in the first votes reported out of the district bordering Kershaw County.
9:34 p.m.
With 20% of precincts reporting, Dalhi Myers holds a lead of 48% to 34% for Cheryl English. If no candidate gets above 50%, there will be a runoff in the Democratic primary in District 10 on June 23.
9:25 p.m.
Two Richland County Council members were in tight contests Tuesday evening, according to early primary results.
In the District 10 Democratic primary, Councilwoman Dalhi Myers trailed state employee Cheryl English 45% to 43% with 14% of precincts in the Lower Richland district reporting. A third candidate, Jackie Bush, had 12%.
In the District 7 Democratic primary in the Dentsville/North Columbia area, Councilwoman Gwen Kennedy has 39% of the vote to Richard Brown’s 34% and Gretchen Barron’s 27% with 8% of precincts reporting.
Other districts had yet to report Tuesday. 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, which covers St. Andrews and the northern part of the county, 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.
Calvin “Chip” Jackson is seeking re-election in District 9 in the Pontiac area against three other Democrats: Angela Gary Addison, Jonneika Farr and Jerry Rega.
In District 3, incumbent Yvonne McBride has no opposition in the Democratic primary. She will face Republican challenger Tony Spain in November for another four-year term.
Learn more about Tuesday’s candidates here.
This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 9:24 PM.
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