Voters will decide 3 mayors, other races in Lexington County this fall. Who’s running
Voters in three Lexington County towns and cities will have contested elections for mayor on Nov. 7, and voters elsewhere will have many council candidates to choose from.
Filing for municipal elections in the county this fall closed at noon Wednesday.
In Cayce, Mayor Elise Partin is running for re-election against Lexington 2 school board member Abott “Tre” Bray. Irmo Mayor Barry Walker faces a challenge from Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Danielson. And in West Columbia, incumbent Mayor Tem Miles faces a challenge from Melissa Sprouse Browne.
Lexington will not have a contested mayoral race as Mayor Pro Tempore Hazel Livingston was the only candidate to file. Incumbent Mayor Steve MacDougall opted not to run again as he mulls a potential run for the S.C. Senate next year.
But eight candidates have filed to run for three at-large seats on Lexington’s town council, including incumbent Councilman Todd Lyle. Livingston’s seat on town council will be open, as will that of Kathy Maness, who ran unsuccessfully for state superintendent of education last year.
Five candidates are running for two seats on Irmo Town Council, including Councilman Erik Sickinger. Councilman Kelly Bush did not file to run for another term.
In West Columbia, three of four council districts will be contested, with Councilman Joseph Dickey facing a challenge from Ronnie Lindler in District 4, Councilman Jimmy Brooks being challenged by Madison Duncan in District 6, and Councilman David Moye facing Pete Fisher in District 8.
West Columbia’s District 7 has a special election for an open seat Nov. 7, pitting Trisha Lekovich against Sarah Mattern. That district was previously represented by Erin Porter, who stepped down in July when she moved out of the district.
In Cayce, Councilman James “Skip” Jenkins faces two challengers in District 2, Marie Brown and Byron Thomas. In District 4, Councilman Phil Carter faces Melvin Fields and Marcy Hayden.
Batesburg-Leesville will also see two contested town council races, with Councilwoman Johnnie Mae Speach-Lemon facing Betty Barnes Hartley in District 4, and Councilman Paul Wise running against Tillman Gives in District 6.
In both Chapin and Gilbert, only one candidate filed to run for a town council seat, according to online records Wednesday afternoon.
Three town council candidates have filed to run in Pelion and Springdale, two in Pine Ridge and Swansea, and two town council candidates and Mayor David Reese in Summit.
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