End of S.C. candidate-filing sets stage for June primaries

March 31--South Carolina's candidate-filing period closed Sunday, setting the stage for the state's crowded June 10 primary elections

The last-minute filers who beat Sunday's noon deadline included Anderson attorney Kurt Gibson and Seneca Democrat Hosea Cleveland. Gibson, who lives in Sandy Springs, will challenge Anderson County Council member Tom Allen in the GOP primary. Cleveland, who owns an insurance agency, is running for the 3rd Congressional District seat now held by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan.

Across the state, 731 candidates submitted their paperwork to run for office during the two-week filing period.

The most crowded contest involves 13 candidates, including Pendelton resident Gary Burgess, who are vying to replace state Superintendent of Education Mick Zais, who chose not to run for another term.

Nine candidates filed to run against U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of Seneca. Graham will face six Republican rivals in the June primary, including Powdersville businessman Richard Cash. State Sen. Brad Hutto and Jay Stamper will compete in the Democratic primary. Libertarian candidate Victor Kocher also will be on the ballot in November.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott has five challengers for the seat that he was appointed to fill in 2012 when Jim DeMint stepped down. Scott's opponent in the Republican primary is Greenville resident Randall Young. Little-known Democrats Joyce Dickerson, Sidney Moore and Harry Pavilack will compete in their party's primary. American Party candidate Jill Bossi also is running for the seat.

Each of the state's seven incumbents in the U.S. House of Representatives filed to run for re-election. U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, the former Republican governor, was the only member of South Carolina's congressional delegation to emerge from the filing period without opposition.

Duncan, a Republican from Laurens, is seeking a third term in a U.S. House district that includes Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties. He will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Cleveland and retired Townville teacher Barbara Jo Mullis.

Gov. Nikki Haley, who is seeking a second term, will meet Greenville attorney Tom Ervin in the GOP primary. Ervin, a former legislator and judge who bought three radio stations in Anderson last year, filed to run Saturday. The winner of that contest will face Democratic state Sen. Vincent Sheheen and two third-party candidates, Libertarian Steve French and Morgan Bruce Reeves, who filed Sunday to run on the United Citizens ticket.

There also will be primary elections for several of the state's constitutional offices, including lieutenant governor, state treasurer, attorney general, comptroller general, adjutant general and commissioner of agriculture.

In Anderson County, no one filed to run against four incumbent Republicans -- Mike Gambrell, Joshua Putnam, Anne Thayer and Brian White -- who are serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Oconee County GOP House members Bill Sandifer and Bill Whitmire also have no opposition.

Throughout South Carolina, no one filed to run against 70 incumbents in the 124-member House. The unchallenged House members include 46 Republicans and 24 Democrats, according to the state elections commission.

State Rep. Don Bowen of Anderson is being challenged in the Republican primary by Anderson tea party founder Jonathon Hill of Townville for the House District 8 seat. In House District 11, which includes the southern end of the county, first-term GOP Rep. Craig Gagnon of Abbeville will face Democrat Tombo Hite of Greenwood in the November general election.

Three state House seats in Pickens County will be on the ballot in the June Republican primary.

In House District 3, former judge Dan Clary will compete against Clemson businessman Ed Harris. The winner will face Libertarian Travis McCurry for the right to serve in the seat that Rep. B.R. Skelton is giving up after 12 years.

Rep. Davey Hiott will meet challenger Michelle Wiles in the House District 4 GOP primary. Three Republicans -- Neal Collins, Harley Staton and Rick Tate -- filed to run for the House District 5 seat after Rep. Phil Owens decided not to seek another term.

There will be two county council contests in Oconee County's Republican primary. Edda Cammick is challenging incumbent council member Paul Corbeil for the District 1 seat. In District 3, Paul Cain and Andy Inabinet will meet for a second time. Both are competing in a special election Tuesday to serve the final few months of Archie Barron's term. Barron died in January.

Probate judge candidates will be on the GOP primary ballots in Anderson and Pickens County. Anderson County Probate Judge Martha Newton, who recently switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, is being challenged by Summary Court Judge Dan Sharp. H. Mark Durham is running against Pickens County Probate Judge Kathy Patterson Zorn.

This was the first year that candidates in South Carolina filed campaign paperwork with elections officials instead of their respective political parties. Legislators approved the change after confusion over a financial ethics form caused more than 200 political challengers to be booted off primary ballots throughout the state in 2012.

The 731 candidates who filed this year include 385 Republicans, 323 Democrats and 23 members of other political parties.

The state's Republican and Democratic leaders both sounded upbeat after the filing period ended Sunday.

"2014 candidate filing once again showed the strength of our S.C. Republican Party," said state GOP Chairman Matt Moore. "We look forward to a spirited primary season and many Republican victories in November."

South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison also was pleased with his slate of candidates. "There are some great individuals that filed this cycle," Harrison tweeted.

Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM

The following candidates have filed for elected offices in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.

Anderson County

South Carolina House of Representatives

District 6

Brian White, Republican incumbent

District 7

Mike Gambrell, Republican incumbent

District 8

Don Bowen, Republican incumbent

Jonathon Hill, Republican challenger

District 9

Anne Thayer, Republican incumbent

District 10

Joshua Putnam, Republican incumbent

District 11

Craig Gagnon, Republican incumbent

Tombo Hite, Democratic challenger

County council

District 1

Francis Crowder, Republican incumbent

Stuart Sprague, Democratic challenger

District 2

Gracie Floyd, Democratic incumbent

Larry Bright, Republican challenger

District 3

Eddie Moore, Republican incumbent

J. Mitchell Cole, Republican challenger

District 4

Tom Allen, Republican incumbent

Kurt Gibson, Republican challenger

District 5

Tommy Dunn, Republican incumbent

Denny Floyd, Republican challenger

District 6

Ken Waters, Republican incumbent

District 7

Cindy Wilson, Republican incumbent

Probate judge

Martha Newton, Republican incumbent

Dan Sharp, Republican challenger

Oconee County

South Carolina House of Representatives

District 1

Bill Whitmire, Republican incumbent

District 2

Bill Sandifer, Republican incumbent

County council

District 1

Paul Corbell, Republican incumbent

Edda Cammick, Republican challenger

District 3

Paul Cain, Republican candidate

Andy Inabinet, Republican candidate

Probate judge

Kenny Johns, Republican incumbent

Pickens County

South Carolina, House of Representatives

District 3

Gary Clary, Republican candidate

Ed Harris, Republican candidate

Travis McCurry, Libertarian candidate

District 4

Davey Hiott, Republican incumbent

Michelle Wiles, Republican challenger

District 5

Neal Collins, Republican candidate

Harley Staton, Republican candidate

Rick Tate, Republican candidate

County council

District 1

Ensley Feemster, Republican candidate

District 2

Trey Whitehurst, Republican incumbent

Probate Judge

Kathy Patterson, Zorn Republican incumbent

H. Mark Durham, Republican challenger

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