By HEATHER RUPPE
Several of Colleton County’s municipalities are holding elections this November, and the number of candidates filing to run for these offices is slim.
The filing deadline has passed for the upcoming Town of Cottageville election. Two candidates have filed to run for town council: Elizabeth A. Green and Jay W. McGrew. Only one candidate – Walter “Will” Williams, Jr. – for an unexpired council term.
In Lodge, two people have filed to run for the town’s mayoral seat: Larry M. Carter, Sr. and Richard C. Smith. Candidates who have filed to run for Lodge Town Council are Brenda Connelly, E. Richard “Bo” Ryan, Rose S. Varnadoe and Christy C. Terry.
In Smoaks, two people have filed to seek a seat on town council: James C. “Jimmy” Avant, Jr. and William “Ty” Barnes.
Edisto Beach has two open seats for its town council. Filing for these council seats has ended, and the candidates who have filed to run for these two council seats are James “Jay” R. Watts II and Robert “Bob” N. Renner.
Filing for candidates interested in the Lodge, Edisto Beach, Cottageville and Smoaks elections opened on August 9th and stayed open through noon on August 23rd.
There are two candidate filling periods still open: the filing deadline for the City of Walterboro election (three council seats and the mayoral seat) and for the unexpired Edisto Beach mayoral seat are both on Friday, Sept. 3rd. The unexpired mayoral term is for two years to be finished on the current four-year term, which was vacated recently by former and longtime Mayor Jane Darby, who resigned on August 5th.
Each of these municipalities will hold their respective elections on November 2nd. The elections are non-partisan, meaning there is no political affiliation on the ballot.
Any run-off elections for these municipalities will be held two weeks after the election on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.
Registering to Vote
Any resident who wants to vote in an upcoming election and who is not yet registered to vote can do so now. The voter registration deadline for these elections Oct. 3rd.
To register, visit the Voter Registration & Elections Office at 2471 Jefferies Hwy, Walterboro, SC 29488 or register online at www.scVotes.gov.
Voter registration by mail applications will be accepted if postmarked by Monday, October 4.
Absentee ballots may be requested now from the Colleton County Voter Registration and Elections Office by calling 843-549-2842. Anyone wanting to cast their absentee ballot in person can do this beginning Monday, Oct. 4th by going to local Voter Registration & Elections Office, which is located at 2471 Jefferies Highway in Walterboro. Absentee ballots done in person will continue from October 4 until 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.
The elections office is open Monday-Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
