MARION -- Both losing candidates in the June 22 Democratic runoff in Marion County have protested the results of that election.

W.L. "Billy" Page and Harold Crawford -- incumbents in the race for county sheriff and County Council District 2, respectively -- filed protests Monday with the Marion County branch of the state Democratic Party.

The protests allege voting irregularities, civil rights violations and improper conduct by their opponents' campaign workers.

Page narrowly lost to his challenger, Mark Richardson, by 75 votes, while Crawford was soundly beaten by his opponent, Eloise Rogers, by a 141-vote margin. A little more than 9,500 votes were cast in the sheriff's race, while 1,407 votes were counted in the Marion County Council District 2 race.

Page, in his protest, also alleges that there were "racially motivated" attempts to interfere at the polls by his opponent and his opponents' campaign workers.

Richardson could not be reached for comment by press time Monday.

Crawford argued that the same campaign and poll workers who worked during the state Senate District 30 primary, which was voided by the state Democratic Executive Committee because of voting irregularities, also were involved in his race for county council.

Rogers denied all of Crawford's allegations.

"I am stunned, and I could not believe the charges made against me and my workers," she said.

Rogers declined to comment further.

Michelle Macrina, spokeswoman for the state Democratic Executive Committee, said the protests will heard and ruled upon by the Marion County Executive Committee.

After that, anyone dissatisfied with a ruling from the local committee can file an appeal with the state committee, Macrina said.

A protest also was filed Monday by Jerry Mason, who lost to incumbent Rep. Jim Battle in the S.C. House District 57 primary June 8.

Marion County Democratic Party Chairman Ulysses Sweeney said Mason would have to file his protest with the state Democratic Party, not the county.

Mason could not be reached for comment by press time Monday.

Protests from Page and Crawford will be heard Thursday night by the Marion County Election Commission at the Beeson Building on Airport Road in Marion County. Crawford's protest will begin at 7 p.m.; Page's at 8 p.m.