By Betsy Finklea
After a certification hearing and vote recount, the City of Dillon Election Commission ruled to count one write-in vote that will throw the Dillon City Council District Three council race into a run-off.
Councilman Johnny Eller led the ticket by one vote receiving 137 votes to his challenger Stephanie Mitchell’s 136 votes; however, there was one write-in ballot cast for Jay David in this race. With this one write-in vote being counted, Eller did not receive the 50 percent plus one of the vote to win the election.
Eller had an attorney present, Michael Burchstead of Collins & Lacy Attorneys At Law, who argued that the vote should not be counted because the person whose name was on the ballot was not qualified to serve in that district. The City Election Commission, which consists of Shannon Berry and Valerie Graves and one open seat, sought advice from the South Carolina Election Commission and the Election Commission attorney before making a final decision. A recount of the votes matched the exact totals as were counted on Tuesday night.
A run-off between Eller and Mitchell will take place on April 20th. Shannon Berry of the City Election Commission said the polling places will be at East Elementary School and the Dillon County Fire Department Station One on Howard Street. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Note: Clips from the hearing are available on The Dillon Herald’s channel on YouTube and on www.thedillonherald.com.
