Election date set for Wilkins seat

e-mail this story print this story More details HOW TO FILE Those interested in running for the House District 24 seat vacated by David Wilkins can file for the seat beginning Friday at the Greenville County Elections Office, 301 University Ridge. Filing closes June 27

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Conway Belangia, director of the Greenville County Voter Registration and Elections Office, said he was notified by letter about the special election.

Filing for the seat begins at noon on Friday and closes at noon on June 27, he said.

The primary will be held Aug. 16, with Aug. 30 set aside for a possible runoff, Belangia said.

Whoever wins the seat will serve about a year, until fall 2006, before running for a full two-year term, Belangia said.

There are several possible contenders for the District 24 seat. They include Michelle Shain, a Democrat and Greenville city councilwoman; Tom Ervin, a Democrat and former circuit judge; Republican William Herlong, an attorney who is now serving on the Greenville County school board; Warren Mowry, a former county GOP chairman; and Bruce Bannister, a Republican who is also an attorney.

Joe Erwin, the state's Democratic Party chairman, said "a moderate Democrat" could win Wilkins' old seat. He said Shain has "high name recognition" in the district, a good portion of which is in the city.

Katon Dawson, his Republican counterpart, said four or five candidates have expressed interest in the seat. He said campaigns for special elections last only six months and aren't as grueling or as expensive as a typical race.

Belangia said the filing fee will be about half the usual amount of $100, a figure based on a percentage of the job's $10,600 annual pay.

Wilkins, 58, stepped down as House Speaker after President Bush tapped him to become U.S. ambassador to Canada. Wilkins headed Bush's presidential campaign in South Carolina. He was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the ambassador position.

Wilkins's replacement as House Speaker is Bobby Harrell Jr. of Charleston, also a Republican Staff writer E. Richard Walton can be reached at 298-4317.