Sefton Ipock Anderson Independent-Mail Hugh Vincent prepares to mark his ballot for the Anderson mayoral election Tuesday at the Anderson Area YMCA.

Runoff to be held in two weeks

By CHARMAINE SMITH AND MERYL DILLMAN Anderson Independent-Mail
April 4, 2006

ANDERSON

In a shakeup at the polls Tuesday, political newcomer Terence Roberts garnered just 187 fewer votes than incumbent Richard Shirley. Both are now headed for a runoff to see who will be Anderson’s next mayor.

Unofficial vote totals released at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday showed incumbent Mayor Richard Shirley garnered 40 percent of the total with 1,236 votes. Challenger Terence Roberts received 34 percent of the vote with 1,049 supporters. Second challenger, Linne Otter, came in third with 784 votes — 26 percent of the total voters.

Of Anderson’s 13,460 registered voters, 23 percent turned out at the polls Tuesday.

In two weeks, on April 18, voters will be asked to go to the polls again and put an "X" next to the candidate of their choice.
When reached at Friend’s Restaurant in downtown Anderson, Mayor Shirley said he isn’t worried about who will emerge victorious in two weeks.

"I am not really nervous because if you look at Linne and I, we have a lot of the same customers, a lot of the same friends and we grew up on the same side of town," Mayor Shirley said. "Terence, I think, benefited from his natural base. He had a lot of the African-American voters. He had all of his strengths today and I had to share mine with Linne."

Mayor Shirley, 51, was first elected to the City Council in 1978 and ran unopposed for mayor in 1998. He was re-elected in 2002 after another unopposed race. Since 1974, no one has challenged an Anderson City Mayor in an election.

Just a few blocks north of Friend’s Restaurant, at Jax New Orleans Bistro, Mr. Roberts was a bit more confident that city residents are ready for a change in leadership.

"We had more votes for change than against change," Mr. Roberts said. "I think the people really came out, and they spoke to what they want."

As the vote totals for each precinct were released, excitement at both restaurants mounted as Mr. Roberts and Mayor Richard Shirley’s numbers remained close. In the early part of the evening, as the city’s wards 4 and 5 totals came in, Mr. Roberts held the lead. But when totals from wards 1 and 2 came in, Mayor Shirley moved ahead.

Mr. Roberts, 46, is a graduate of Westside High School and has worked as a State Farm Insurance agent for 18 years. Mr. Roberts also serves on various boards, including the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army, and New Foundations Children and Family Services.

Mayor Shirley, 51, went to Anderson College for an associate’s degree and then went on to Presbyterian College. He is the vice-president and city executive of the National Bank of South Carolina. He also serves on a number of boards, including the Presbyterian College Board of Visitors, the Anderson University Board of Visitors and the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Each said they plan to hit the city streets in force for the next two weeks.

After results were in, Mr. Roberts thanked his supporters but also reminded them they had more work to do.

"The next couple weeks we’ll just go back to what we’ve done the past two months," Mr. Roberts said. "(We’ll) try to execute our plan and keep talking to people and make sure we understand what people want."

Mr. Roberts said he plans to keep alive his calling networks and continue to walk the streets and talk to people one-on-one.

"In the work that we did, obviously one of the things we felt was that people really wanted to change and the vote signifies that change," Mr. Roberts said. "I look forward to the challenge of running against Richard again."

As for whether he will emerge a winner in two weeks, Mr. Roberts said, "I’m a sports guy. I never think about losing. I can’t entertain that thought."

Mayor Shirley said he will not resort to negative campaigning but he does plan to do some more aggressive campaigning. He said he will "showcase his skills and his passion for the community."

"I was a good boy and attended every forum," Mayor Shirley said. "I let Linne and Terence have equal billing. I won’t do that over the next two weeks. I plan on explaining to Anderson what 28 years of experience on the council means, what a relationship with the council means and what inexperience means."

Charmaine Smith can be reached
at (864) 260-1260 or by e-mail at
smithca@IndependentMail.com.

Copyright 2006, Anderson Independent Mail. All Rights Reserved.