By Betsy Finklea
Dillon County Council candidate Sarita Bethea has submitted a complaint letter regarding the residence of James M. “Hoghead” Campbell.
She hand-delivered the complaint along with copies for each member of the commission shortly before noon on Wednesday to the Dillon County Voter Registration Office and presented it to Suzie Edwards, Director of the Dillon County Voter Registration Office.
Edwards told The Herald that she notified Wilson Brown, chairman of the Dillon County Election Commission that the complaint had been received and informed Bethea that she must contact the Democratic Party who certifies the candidate.
In her complaint letter, Bethea alleges that Campbell “does not reside in Dillon County Council District One as required by the South Carolina Constitution, the South Carolina Code of Laws, the South Carolina Election Commission, South Carolina Ethics Commission, and the Dillon County Democratic Party.”
Campbell lists his residence on election-related forms as 403 Lewis Street, Dillon.
Bethea claims that Campbell resides with his wife at 1927 Russell Court, which is in Dillon County Council District Five.
She claims in her complaint letter that the residents at 403 Lewis Street, Dillon, are Terry and Shantel McRae, who she states rent the home.
She asks in her complaint letter that Campbell “be immediately disqualified and removed as a candidate in the general election by South Carolina state and local law.”
She included a number of documents with her complaint letter including Campbell’s signed filing fee receipt, statement of candidacy and party pledge, S.C. State Ethics Commission disclosure, S.C. State Ethics Commission Statement of Economic Interest, and other documentation.
The Herald contacted Campbell who stated the law states that he must have a residence in the district that he runs in. He said that 403 Lewis Street is his residence and that he pays taxes on that residence.
There was no further information available at press time as to what the next step in the process is in this matter.
UPDATE: Wilson Brown, head of the Dillon County Election Commission, said this complaint will be heard prior to the certification of the election.
