With no Democratic opposition for the District 98 seat, Young likely is headed for her eighth consecutive term.

Young could not be reached immediately for comment.

Young garnered 72 percent of the vote against the Rev. Don Shackelford, a Baptist pastor who never has held public office but was Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash's campaign manager in 1996.

"I had an absolute riot," Shackelford said.

"I believe if someone wants to have fun, they need to join a political campaign and get out there and meet people," he said. "I'll be back in two years. This thing is absolutely intoxicating."

Young, a commercial real estate agent and widow with two grown children, centered her campaign on education, citing her years of involvement as a parent in public schools.

She said she played a key role in getting more money for schools from the state lottery and favors Gov. Mark Sanford's plan requiring teachers to give conduct grades to students so their parents know how they are behaving.

Young also supported Sanford's plan to lower the state income tax, and she said she also is looking at plans to lower property taxes for homeowners.

Young was House majority leader in 1995 and Dorchester County Republican Party chairwoman from 1988 to 1990.

Shackelford, pastor of Flowertown Baptist Church, centered his campaign on traditional values and the Constitution.

He cited his support for the right to life for unborn children and opposition to same-sex marriages.

Shackelford also opposes the Dorchester District 2 School Board's efforts to raise money by selling bonds that taxpayers would have to repay.

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