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Article published Mar 31, 2004
Democrats field candidates
Tony Taylor
Staff
Writer
After years of conceding elections to the Republican Party,
Spartanburg County Democrats have fielded five candidates to challenge GOP
incumbents this fall.Local Democrats have recruited four candidates to run for
state office, and the party has a candidate challenging Republican County
Councilman David Britt.Leon Russ, a 41-year-old publications specialist, will be
Britt's opponent."The Democratic Party is alive and well in Spartanburg County,"
said Liz Patterson, party chairwoman. "We proved that during the presidential
primary and during the county convention. A lot of people are not satisfied with
those that are serving."Russ agreed with Patterson's assessment."I think people
in Spartanburg deserve a choice," Russ said. "The Republicans just show up, and
they have the job."Patterson said it's the largest field of candidates the
Democrats have offered in at least six years.The Republican Party responded by
providing Johnnye Code Stewart, the only Democrat on County Council, with an
opponent for the first time in her 12-year political career.Lafe Thompson, a
65-year-old Roebuck resident and machine salesman for Atkins machinery, has
filed to run against Stewart.In addition to Stewart, the county's only
Democratic incumbents are state Sen. Glenn Reese and state Rep. Brenda
Lee.County Councilman Steve Parker, R-Boiling Springs, will run against
Reese.Republican Party Chairman Rick Beltram said the party had promised Lee
that it would not field a candidate against her."We're comfortable with the way
she does things," Beltram said of Lee. "We have a candidate everywhere we need
to."Beltram said he is pleased this elec-tion will be more competitive than
those in years past."When we found out the Democrats had a field of candidates,
we were overjoyed," Beltram said. "It's been a long time since our people have
had a campaign."Councilman Rock Adams is the only County Council member running
unopposed.Reps. Scott Talley, Lanny Littlejohn and Doug Smith also have
Democratic opponents.All three Republican House members ran unopposed in
2002.Royce A. Justice, a retired teacher, will represent the Democratic Party
against Talley.David Ervin, a 45-year-old self-employed computer specialist in
Cowpens, will challenge Littlejohn.Alice Hatcher Henderson, distinguished
professor of emerita of history at the University of South Carolina Spartanburg,
will take on Smith, the House speaker pro-tem.But the Democrats were unable to
find challengers for Reps. Ralph Davenport, Joseph Mahaffey, Phil Sinclair and
Bob Walker.Most of the June primaries will be uncontested.Senate District 12 has
two challengers seeking the Republican nomination.Businessman Lee Bright is
challenging incumbent John Hawkins.Democrat Leonardo Ortiz will face the winner
of the Bright/Hawkins race.Chuck Wright and Bill Norris have filed to run
against incumbent Bill Coffey in the Republican primary for sheriff.Wright
recently resigned from the Sheriff's Office to run against Coffey, and Norris is
a former sheriff's lieutenant. Norris retired in 2000.The winner of the primary
will face Democrat Jack Owens in the general election.Former coroner's
investigator Mike Smith is challenging incumbent county coroner Jim Burnett in
June Republican primary.No Democrat filed for coroner.Clerk of Court Marc
Kitchens and 7th Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy are running for re-election
unopposed.No Democratic candidate will have primary opposition.Tony Taylor can
be reached at 562-7219 or tony.taylor@shj.comRice to testify before 9-11
panel