sponsor


Homepage > Commitment 2008

Several Runoff Races Especially Worth Watching

Few Voters Expected To Make Decisions

POSTED: 12:40 pm EDT June 24, 2008
UPDATED: 12:49 pm EDT June 24, 2008

Though the voter turnout is expected to be dismally low for Tuesday's runoff election, there are some races of note that especially bear watching.

As soon as results are available after the polls close they will be on WYFF4.com. Click here and use the pulldown menu to to see updated results.

Greenville County Council District 18

In northern Greenville County, Tony Trout rode into office one term ago to represent District 18. He's made a name for himself trying to break up what he calls the "good ole boy" system, and has investigated inmate treatment and county road paving.

The state and federal government are now investigating Trout himself, for allegedly spying on county colleague's computer activities.

Greer City Council member Joe Baldwin says Trout's controversial actions were part of the reason he decided to step into the race to lead District 18.

Baldwin grabbed 44 percent of the vote two weeks ago, and hopes to seal the Republican spot on the ticket to run in November.

Trout earned 29 percent of the vote in the primary.

Fourth District Congressional Seat

Democrats Paul Corden and Ted Christian square off in the primary runoff for the Fourth District Congressional seat.

The winner will take on incumbent Republican Bob Inglis in the November election.

Two weeks ago, in a three-way Democratic primary race, Corden, of Spartanburg, received the most votes, with 6,178.

Christian, who is from Greenville, received the second most votes with 4,893.

Bryan McCanless, with 3,867 votes, came in third and was not eligible for the runoff.

Both Corden and Christian told WYFF News 4 that they plan to keep campaigning until the polls close Tuesday.

Corden said he would spend time at polling places in Union County where a sheriff's race runoff could attract more people to the polls.

Christian said he would spend most of his day at home making phone calls.

He plans on watching the election results Tuesday night at his campaign manager's home in Taylors, while Corden said he will watch the returns from the comfort of his own home.

District 12 Senate Seat

Lee Bright and Scott Talley came in first and second in the June 10 Republican primary. They’re facing off in the runoff for Spartanburg’s District 12 Senate seat.

Talley had more votes, but not enough to clinch the primary victory. The attorney and co-owner of several Marble Slab Creamery ice cream shops calls himself a solid conservative and runs on a platform of lowering taxes, cutting wasteful spending, and protecting family values. Talley has also served four terms in the State House of Representatives.

Lee Bright is also hoping to pull out a victory today. The entrepreneur, who started a nationwide trucking and hauling company, said that he’s very concerned about the impact government actions have on the economy.

If elected, Bright said he wants to improve the business climate in South Carolina. Bright has also spoken out about education, saying the state needs a quality school system.

Union County Sheriff

In Union County in the primary, just 50 votes separated Howard Wells and David Taylor in their bid to become sheriff.

Wells, the incumbent, brought in 47 percent of the vote, to Taylor's 46 percent.

Wells began his first term as Sheriff in 1993. His law enforcement career began in 1975.

Taylor has 25 years of law enforcement experience. He spent 12 years with the Union County Sheriff's Office. Both men are Democrats.

The winner of that run-off will face Republican Freddie Gault in November.

WYFF News 4 reporters Stephanie Trotter, Mandy Gaither, Mark Allen and Mike McCormick contributed to this report.

Pulldown for Election Results:

Commitment 2008

Hearst-Argyle Television stations nationwide continue an aggressive commitment to our viewers with award-winning political news coverage we call Commitment 2008. More


You don't have to surf around the Web to find the top political headlines. We're doing the work for you! More