COLUMBIA - Former clerk of court candidate Elaine Elliott was confirmed by the Senate as the new magistrate for the Pleasant Hill section of Georgetown County.

She will fill out the two years of the unexpired term of Magistrate Mary Alice Williams, who has resigned.

Elliott ran last year as a Republican for Georgetown County clerk of court against incumbent Democrat Alma White and lost.

Elliott also ran for the same job in the Democratic primary in 2000. At the time, she was employed in the clerk's office and was fired by the former clerk of court for running against her.

Magistrates are nominated by the senators who represent their district and are appointed by the governor. Sen. Yancey McGill, D-Kingstree, nominated Elliott.

He said Elliott has been Williams' clerk for several years and that Williams recommended her.

Williams resigned for health and other personal reasons, McGill said.

The county is fortunate to have someone with Elliott's experience available, he said.

"She's well-qualified; she will do an excellent job," he said. Her party affiliation does not matter to him, but he was pleased to have another woman fill the job, he said.

Williams was the only woman magistrate in the county.

Elliott lives in Pleasant Hill and knows the people, McGill said.

She is married to Georgetown County School Board member Benny Elliott.

Elaine Elliott will have to attend training and work with a sitting magistrate before she can take office. McGill said the other magistrates will have to share the workload until Elliott takes office.