Richland County Council Democrat Kit Smith filed Tuesday to run against Republican Sen. John Courson for his District 20 seat.

Smith’s filing came as a surprise to her fellow County Council members and leaders of both parties.

“I saw Kit at lunch and she said ‘guess where I’ve been,’” council chairwoman and fellow Democrat Bernice Scott said.

Democratic Party chairman Don Fowler said he was not aware that Smith had filed.

“She would be an exceptionally fine state senator, but it’s news to me,” Fowler said.

Republicans said they were surprised that Smith would challenge Courson, a popular senator who has held the seat since 1985.

“He has shown that he has tremendous support among traditionally Democratic voters,” said Shell Suber, chairman of the Richland County Republican Party.

Courson said he had expected to have an opponent but didn’t know who. Richland County Council Democrat Tony Mizzell unsuccessfully challenged Courson in 2000.

Smith is not up for re-election this year and will retain her council seat if she loses to Courson in the general election.

“I’ve been approached by a lot of people encouraging me to run because I’ve seen so many irresponsible decisions made by the General Assembly that have such an impact on local government and taxes,” Smith said. “I needed to raise those issues and speak out for the people.”

LEXINGTON COUNTY

Two political legacies, one near the end of a career and the other just starting, should make for competitive Lexington state House races.

Larry Koon, the longest-serving member of the S.C. House of Representatives, faces a challenge from fellow Republicans Nikki Haley and David Perry. Rumors of Koon’s retirement lingered for months until they were quashed last week when he filed for re-election.

Running for his first public office is David Spence, son of former U.S. Representative Floyd Spence. Spence will challenge one-term Republican incumbent Ted Pitts in the primary for House District 69.

Danny Frazier and Debbie Summers will compete to replace three-term Lexington County Councilman Jacob Wilkerson in District 4.

In the only Lexington race that will feature a contested primary and general election, three candidates are looking to defeat long-serving Sheriff James Metts.

Larry Harrison, a former Lexington County deputy, and Jimmy Brazelle will challenge Metts in the June 8 Republican primary. Former Batesburg-Leesville Assistant Police Chief Fred Hamer is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

KERSHAW COUNTY

Five candidates will vie for the Camden-area state House seat vacated when Vincent Sheheen was elected to the state Senate earlier this year, but a June special election could give candidates a sneak preview of whom voters favor.

Two Republicans, William “Buster” Beckham and Don Spivey, are running against two Democrats, Laurie Slade Funderburk and John Carmichael for the House District 52 seat in the special June 15 election. Primaries for both parties are set for April 27.

All four of those candidates, plus another Republican, Dennis Arledge, have filed for the general election for the District 52 seat.

Primaries for the November election will be on June 8, one week before the special election.

Democrat Sheheen, who won Senate Seat 27 after the death of longtime Sen. Donald Holland last year, also will face opposition in November.

He will once again face Republican Steve Kelly, chairman of Kershaw County Council. Sheheen defeated Kelly in February’s special election for the seat.

Reach Hill at (803) 771-8462 or sehill@thestate.com. Staff writers Kristy Eppley Rupon and John O’Connor contributed to this report.