COLUMBIA - Circuit Judge Paula Thomas was defeated 98-68 Tuesday in her bid for a seat on the state Appeals Court.

Family Court Judge Bruce Williams of Columbia won in the election by legislators.

"I'm disappointed," Thomas said but added she is grateful for those who supported her effort.

Thomas, a Pawleys Island resident, said she aspires to an appellate judgeship and will try again when there is another vacancy.

"I absolutely will return," she said.

Rep. Doug Jennings, D-Bennettsville, was one of Thomas' floor leaders or people campaigning for her in the House.

"She is a very capable jurist and a classy lady who was up against a popular family court judge from Columbia," Jennings said.

Williams is progressive and an innovator who started the drug court program in juvenile court, Jennings said.

"Paula should not take the loss as any signal of a lack of confidence in her at all," he said.

"Paula handled herself with dignity and grace, and she will be remembered for that the next time she files," said Rep. Vida Miller, D-Pawleys Island.

Miller said she was disappointed at the outcome because the court should have another woman judge and also because the seat was informally reserved for the Lowcountry and has been lost to the Midlands.

Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, was co-chairman of Thomas' campaign in the House.

He said Thomas' race was influenced somewhat by the campaign for the other seat up for grabs.

Legislators passed up, by 10 votes, a chance to add another black judge to the court. Instead, they picked Circuit Judge Paul Short, husband of Sen. Linda Short, D-Chester.

And because the Senate voted first and Williams had a large majority there, that vote influenced some House members who were on the fence to vote for Williams, Edge said.

All members of the area delegation except Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, voted for Thomas. Viers said Williams was better qualified.

He said the delegation met with Thomas and advised her not to run because Williams, who lost narrowly for an Appeals Court post last year, had the momentum.

Edge said no such meeting or advice to Thomas occurred.

"It is incomprehensible to me why a member of our own delegation would not support our own judge," Edge said.

Thomas also disagreed with Viers' account.

"They did not meet with me and advise me not to run," she said.

Viers said his support of Williams was not related to his recent admission to law school, where Williams' wife, Sharon Williams, is an assistant dean.

"I got into law school on my own merits," he said. "This really shows the depths the other side would go to."

Sharon Williams is assistant dean for development at the law school, where she is responsible for fund-raising.

Laura Long, a staff member at the law school, said Sharon Williams has no official duties involving admissions.