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Article published Nov 3, 2004
Incumbents claim wins for Statehouse
Dudley Brown
Staff
Writer
State Rep. Doug Smith spent most of Tuesday evening
collecting his campaign signs instead of keeping tabs on election results.He
said he pledged to have his signs up for just two weeks. So he sent about a
dozen supporters out to collect between 300 and 400 signs.Smith, who represents
District 32 and is House Speaker Pro Tem, and two other incumbent Republican
representatives in Spartanburg County cruised to victories two years ago without
opposition. This year, they did the same with opponents.Unofficial results
showed Smith receiving 66 percent of the vote or 8,530 ballots. His opponent,
Democrat Alice Hatcher Henderson, received 34 percent or 4,388 votes.Smith said
having an opponent kept him from gathering statewide support to run for Speaker
of the House. The position could come open if current Speaker David Wilkins,
R-Greenville, is offered a position in the Bush White House."I had to focus on
my return," said Smith, who hadn't had an opponent in 12 years.Smith said he's
personally encouraged Wilkins to stay, but if Wilkins chooses to leave, he'd be
glad to run for Speaker."I'm certain it would be good for Spartanburg," he
said.Henderson, 70, a retired history professor at the University of South
Carolina Upstate, said both of her daughters, who are political science
professors, encouraged her to run for the House.Reps. Lanny Littlejohn, District
33, and Scott Talley, District 34, were also re-elected.Littlejohn last faced
opposition 10 years ago. Littlejohn received 71 percent of votes or 6,315 to
Democrat David Ervin's 2,524, according to unofficial totals.Ervin, 46, couldn't
be reached for comment.Talley, District 34's representative, was elected to his
third term. This was his first time having competition in November.Smith, 46,
and Talley, 28, are lawyers. Littlejohn, 62, is a retired businessman.Justice,
68, a retired teacher, said he was glad to have the opportunity to participate
in the race.Unofficial results showed Talley receiving 8,900 votes or 65 percent
to Justice's 4,699.The election was Ervin and Justice's first attempt at public
office. Henderson is a former Spartanburg School District 7 board
member.Incumbent Rep. Olin Phillips, D-Gaffney, won the District 30 race in
Cherokee County against Republican Bobby Beattie. This was Phillips' third time
facing opposition in his 26 years as a state representative and he said it was
his toughest race because of partisan tension.Unofficial results showed Phillips
winning with 57 percent of the vote -- 5,958 votes -- while Beattie received 43
percent -- 4,459 votes."I'd like to thank the people who supported me, and those
who didn't, I'd be glad to help them too," Phillips said.Phillips, 69, is a
businessman and Beattie, 44, is a residential builder.District 31 Rep. Brenda
Lee, D-Spartanburg, District 35 Rep. Phil Sinclair, R-Spartanburg, District 36
Rep. Joe Mahaffey, R-Lyman, District 37 Rep. Ralph Davenport, R-Boiling Springs,
District 38 Rep. Bob Walker, R-Landrum, and District 42 Rep. Mike Anthony,
D-Union, were also re-elected in uncontested races.Dudley Brown can be reached
at 562-7426 or dudley.brown@shj.com.