The State endorsement: Our Richland County Council choices

Just two Richland County Council races are up in the air in the June 11 primary. Such a small number is an indication that residents aren’t really clamoring for change even as council members are contemplating asking voters for $4.5 billion in a new penny tax.

Six of 11 County Council seats could have been contested in 2024, but three Democratic incumbents — Derrek Pugh in District 2, Overture Walker in District 8 and board Chair Jesica Mackey in District 9 — drew no June challengers. Pugh and Mackey will automatically serve new four-year terms without GOP or third-party challengers, and Walker would face only a Forward Party challenger in the fall (or not if Walker wins a June 11 state Senate primary election, but that race is the subject of a later editorial.)

A fourth Democratic incumbent — District 7’s Gretchen Barron — had her primary foe withdraw from the race after the filing period ended because she didn’t live in the district and couldn’t serve if elected, so a vote for Barron is the only way to go there. All of that left only districts 3 and 10 to be settled in the primary as early voting began on Tuesday.

District 3 includes Forest Acres, Arcadia Lakes and Dentsville. District 10 includes parts of Lower Richland and Northeast Richland. Overall, the county’s 425,000 residents are in good hands either way in both races.

The District 3 race to succeed Council member Yvonne McBride is between two business owners, massage practitioner and first-time candidate Tyra Little and Christa Williams, the owner of Uncle Willie’s grocery store, who lost Columbia City Council campaigns in 2021 and 2023. Little is a U.S. Air Force veteran. Williams founded the Rural South Carolina Project, a voter engagement nonprofit, and is in the South Carolina Army National Guard. Both are — and have — invested in their community.

Little is unique, though. She has lost two sons to gun violence, one in 2013 and one in April. Her desire to honor their memories helps drive her as a person and as a candidate for public office, and is partly why she focuses on issues like youth programs, community investments and community policing, and gun violence prevention.

Thus inspired, Little would bring insights and experience on community issues big and small and may make headway on intractable issues, improving quality of life for all. The State Editorial Board endorses Tyra Little for Richland County Council District 3

The District 10 race pits incumbent Council member Cheryl English against first-time candidate DeAnta Reese. She has lived in Lower Richland for 48 years and worked in state government for 30-plus, at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the S.C. Department of Mental Health as a counselor for children and adolescents. He is a real estate consultant and fellow longtime district resident. Each told us they would focus on paving roads, protecting the public and pushing for access to needed services, but only English included workforce and affordable housing in her top three priorities. “Being able to have a place to live, ‘a sanctuary,’ gives people a feeling of accomplishment and provides a foundation to build their lives and grow their families,” she wrote. Reese made a different point about housing, saying, “We have families who on a good rainy day can’t be accessed by emergency services, school buses or anyone else, due to road conditions. This is totally unacceptable.”

English took office in 2021 after defeating Council member Dalhi Myers in 2020. Now Reese hopes to oust an incumbent, too. Ultimately, we base our endorsement on two related factors. South Carolina needs more women in public office at all levels of government, and English has been doing work that Reese himself acknowledges is hard. Reese told us, “I certainly respect the work our council lady has done. It doesn’t look like it’s been easy.” After winning four years ago, English said something similar: “The learning curve is high.” Both would serve ably, but we give English the edge. The State Editorial Board endorses Cheryl English for Richland County Council District 10.

This story was originally published May 28, 2024 at 9:00 AM.