BISHOPVILLE, S.C. — Bishopville residents went to the polls on Tuesday to elect a mayor along with all council seats.
Luke Giddings is the unofficial winner and new Bishopville mayor with 351 votes. Incumbent mayor Grady Brown received 297 votes.
Six council seats were open.
Keishan Scott received 493 votes, Gloria Lewis received 369 votes, Belinda Hay 360, Wayne Hancock received 339 votes, Shirley Hill received 329 votes, Edward Byrd received 302 votes, , Retta D. Tindal had 283 votes, Anderia Quan Wilson received 288 votes, Jim Jenko Sr. got 114 votes.
These are the unofficial totals.
Grady Brown, 79, is running for re-election as mayor against 21-year-old Luke Giddings, who's running in his first race.
The makeup of the council could change as all six seats are up for reelection. A total of nine candidates were seeking those seats, including five people who were running for reelection.
"I’m very excited because I believe that God is about to do a new thing in Bishopville, South Carolina," said voter Tammie Dix.
Dix is one of many residents excited to vote as she says Bishopville’s whole look could change based on this one election.
The Lee County Elections Office said 219 people early voted but that election day voting was slower than anticipated. At 3 p.m., only 19% of registered voters cast their ballots.
“It’s a big deal because we need growth and we need leadership,” says voter Ronnie Nixon.
“Bishopville is a nice place but I believe and I know it can be better than what it is now, so if the people come out and vote, if you come out and vote, we will see those changes and Bishopville will absolutely be bigger, better, brighter, a change, not a challenge, leadership for our future so come out and vote so your voice can be heard,” Dix added.