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Local incumbents re-elected handily

Brad Hutto casts his vote

The Republican-dominated South Carolina General Assembly was widely criticized for inaction in the past session, but voters in The T&D Region weren't in a mood to punish local Democratic legislators for it.

Seven local legislators sought re-election in Tuesday's general election, and voters granted their wish.

In the newly redrawn Senate District 40, Orangeburg attorney Brad Hutto, a Democrat who has held the seat since 1996, defeated his Republican challenger, registered nurse A. Clay Morris of Barnwell, in all four counties of the district.

"I want to thank all the people who have supported me and came out and voted," Hutto said Tuesday evening.

"I was glad to see that so many people came out and participated in the democratic process," he added. "I look forward to serving them another four years."

Hutto had 11,719 votes, or 75 percent, to 3,844 votes, or 25 percent, for Morris in Orangeburg County.

In Bamberg County, Hutto led Morris by 3,743 votes, or 77 percent, to 1,139 votes, or 23 percent.

In Allendale County, the vote was 2,693 votes, or 79 percent, for Hutto and 737 votes, or 21 percent, for Morris.

Barnwell County voters supported Hutto by a vote of 57 percent to 43 percent out of roughly 8,200 ballots cast in the race.

District 40 includes a portion of Orangeburg County, all but two precincts of Bamberg County and all of Barnwell and Allendale counties.

The Associated Press reported that, with 48 of 56 precincts counted in the Senate district, Hutto held a lead with 19,165 votes, or 71 percent, compared to 7,848 votes, or 29 percent, for Morris.

In Senate District 36, Manning attorney John Land, a Democrat, appeared to be heading for re-election to his eighth four-year term in the Senate District 36 seat.

With 35 of 60 precincts in the Senate district counted, the AP tally showed Land with 7,649 votes, or 65 percent, and his Republican opponent, Bob Gibbons, with 4,044 votes, or 35 percent.

Gibbons is a retiree in the New Zion community of Clarendon County.

District 36 includes all of Calhoun and Clarendon counties as well as portions of Sumter and Florence counties.

The election in House District 93 featured a rematch of the 2002 contest between Calhoun County farmer Harry L. Ott Jr., a Democrat, and restaurant manager Jim Ulmer of North, a Republican.

The result was a repeat as well, with Ott prevailing.

"I would like to thank all of my supporters who worked really hard to allow me to go back and represent them again," Ott said Tuesday night.

"I'm thrilled at the margin of victory. I'm going to go back to Columbia and provide constituent service to all my constituents, just as I have done for the past six years," he added.

District 93 includes all 8,896 registered voters of Calhoun County, 6,844 registered voters in Orangeburg County and 1,796 registered voters in Lexington County.

Ott led by a vote of 3,814, or 77 percent, to 1,143 votes, or 23 percent, for Ulmer in Orangeburg County.

In Calhoun County, Ott had 5,030 votes, or 74 percent, to 1,744 votes, or 26 percent, for Ulmer.

Results from Lexington County were unavailable, but the AP reported that, with 17 of 26 precincts in the House district counted, Ott led with 6,409 votes, or 74 percent, compared to 2,249 votes, or 26 percent, for Ulmer.

In House District 97, incumbent George Bailey, a St. George businessman, overcame controversy over his last-minute party switch from Democrat to Republican as well as questions about his resume.

He defeated political newcomer Lachlan McIntosh, a Democrat who had been chosen by party officials as part of a court settlement over Bailey's party switch.

In Dorchester County, with all votes counted except for absentee ballots, Bailey had 6,361 votes, or 52 percent, to 5,801 votes, or 48 percent, for McIntosh.

The AP reported that, with 14 of 18 precincts in the House district counted, Bailey had 5,335 votes, or 54 percent, compared to 4,531 votes, or 46 percent, for McIntosh.

"I am very happy that I ran a very positive campaign. At no time did I ever get in the gutter with anybody. I ran on my record of 18 years and my constituent service," Bailey said Tuesday night.

"I'm pleased my constituents -- and particularly the Republican Party and my Republican friends -- stood with me, had faith in me and voted for me," he continued.

"I'm ready to go back to Columbia and work with the governor on his contract for change. I'll work on tort reform.

"My plan also is to try to look at the feasibility of consolidating (Dorchester) School District 2 and 4. People are showing a lot of interest in that. I'm not blaming the teachers; I blame the school board, but not all school board members. Something is wrong with our school districts. It's not right to have school District 2 do such a great job and District 4 a failing job. Black and white parents are upset.

"In closing, Lachlan called me and congratulated me, and I appreciate that," Bailey said.

Also winning re-election without formal opposition were John Matthews Jr., D-Bowman, to the Senate District 39 seat; Jerry Govan Jr., D-Orangeburg, to the House District 95 seat; and Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, to the House District 66 seat.