Behind unofficial results Tuesday evening of the day’s primary voting, all three incumbent county councilmen held off their challengers to retain their seats.

Some races were closer that others – much closer.

In the Republican primary, District 2 Councilman Rodney Ashcraft defeated challenger Scott Mims by a count of 469-337, handing him a second term. A large swing in votes from the Merriwether precincts helped carry the day for Ashcraft.

“I’d like to thank everyone who supported and took part in this election because they helped provide the ability for Edgefield County to move forward,” he said. “I will continue to look under every rock and continue to listen to my constituents and not special interests. I look forward to two more years of service as councilman of District 2.”

Mr. Mims said he was pleased with his campaign.

“We ran a good, clean campaign and I want to thank everyone for their friendship,” he said. “I hope (Rodney) does what’s best for the county because that’s what it’s all about, but the people have spoken and we’ll go with it.”

District 4 Councilman Willie Bright earned a pathway into two decades of service with his 169-113 victory over challenger Byron Robinson. His new term will mean Bright will have served on Council over 20 years.

“I talked to a lot of people, but it’s all about service and doing what’s right,” he said. “Right now the biggest thing we have to work on is the budget and then getting the Calliham building wrapped up.”

And it was yet another narrow victory for Councilman Norman Dorn in District 1 as he held off challenger Albert Talbert for an unofficial 319-301 victory. In the last election cycle, Dorn defeated Talbert by around 50 votes. Talbert, however, remained undaunted, saying he would make yet another run at Dorn’s seat in the future.

“Oh yes, I’ll run again,” he said. “I won’t give up.”
In other results, North Augusta-native Bill Hixon will resume the seat his father had 50 years ago, as he took District 83 with 66 percent of the vote.

Hixon will replace Rep. Don Smith, who retired this past year wanting to spend more time with his family. Competitor Dea Baldwin earned 1,093 votes, or 33 percent. In Edgefield County, Hixon won with 80 percent of the vote (534-132).

State Rep. Nikki Haley took the race for governor in the county with 1,007 (43.35 percent) of the votes in the Republican primary, while Vincent Sheheen won the Democratic primary in the race for governor with 529 votes (45.56 percent).

Edgefield County Voter Registration and Elections Director Tricia Butler said that the entire process flowed smoothly from dawn until dusk – and beyond.

“Everything went really well,” she said.

Certified primary results will be released later in the week.

South Carolina State Election Commission
2010 Republican & Democratic Primary
Edgefield County Results

Republican Candidates
Governor
Gresham Barrett - 954
Andre Bauer - 169
Nikki R Haley – 1,007
Henry McMaster - 193

Lieutenant Governor
Ken Ard - 417
Bill Connor - 834
Eleanor Kitzman - 423
Larry Richter - 354

State Treasurer
Converse Chellis - 882
Curtis Loftis – 1,164

Attorney General
Robert Bolchoz - 344
Leighton Lord - 584
Alan Wilson – 1,064

Comptroller General
Richard A Eckstrom – 1,405
Mike Meilinger - 596

State Superintendent of Education
Gary L Burgess - 408
Elizabeth Moffly - 413
Brent Nelsen - 225
Kelly Payne - 483
Glenn C Price - 164
Mick Zais - 288

U.S. Senate
Jim DeMint – 1,949
Susan McDonald Gaddy - 311

U.S. House of Representatives District 3
Richard Cash - 195
Neal Collins - 54
Jeff Duncan - 816
Joe Grimaud - 798
Rex Rice - 205
Frank Michael Vasovski - 147

State House of Representatives District 83
Dea Baldwin - 132
Bill Hixon - 534

County Council District 2
Rodney Ashcraft - 469
Scott C Mims - 337

Democratic Candidates
Governor
Robert Ford - 300
Jim Rex - 332
Vincent A Sheheen - 529

State Superintendent of Education
Frank Holleman - 585
Tom Thompson - 529

U.S. Senate
Alvin M Greene - 750
Vic Rawl - 332

U.S. House of Representatives District 3
Brian Ryan B Doyle - 539
Jane Ballard Dyer - 600

County Council District 1
Norman Dorn - 319
Albert Talbert - 301

County Council District 4
Willie C Bright - 169
Byron A Robinson - 113