BAMBERG – Bakari Sellers officially won the S.C. House District 90 seat Tuesday to replace incumbent Thomas Rhoad.
Sellers defeated Rhoad, a 26-year veteran lawmaker, in the June Democratic primary. He faced no opposition in the general election, garnering 3,018 votes. “I am very excited and take a lot of pride in representing District 90. It means a lot to me to be a product of this area,” Sellers said. “My joy is just as powerful tonight as it was on June 13th.
“I will feel the same way tomorrow morning when I wake up and the same way next year. I am just very excited to be given the opportunity to work for this district.”
The University of South Carolina law student said his victory is not due to any one person or group.
“I believe the reality of me winning this election has been the result of a collective effort of this district. A lot of people from many communities all over District 90 have been instrumental in helping me win,” he said.
His goal now is to give everyone the opportunity to see some of what they want during his first two years in office. “I hope people will appreciate my humility, upbringing and the fact that I have come home to make a difference,” he said.
Here’s how Bamberg County voted in Tuesday’s general election:
Governor
Mark Sanford, 1,220
Tommy Moore, 2,681
Lt. Governor
Andre Bauer, 1,243
Robert Barber, 2,621
Secretary of State
Mark Hammond, 1,481
Cheryl L. Footman, 2,350
Treasurer
Thomas Ravenel, 1,077
Grady L. Patterson Jr., 2,800
Comptroller General
Richard Eckstrom, 1,355
Drew Theodore, 2,485
Superintendent of Education
Tony Fayyazi, 43
Arnold E. Karr, 17
Karen Floyd, 1,124
Tim Moultrie, 37
Jim Rex, 2,608
Ralph Lindblad, 14
Adjutant General
Stan Spears, 1,430
Glenn Lindman, 2,393
Commissioner of Agriculture
Hugh Weathers, 1,542
Emile DeFelice, 2,296
U.S. House of Representatives District 6
Antonio Williams, 30
Gary McLeod, 1,155
James E. “Jim” Clyburn, 2,662
Amendment No. 1
Yes – 2,735
No – 621
Amendment No. 2A
Yes – 2,570
No – 665
Amendment No. 2B
Yes – 2,420
No – 771
Amendment No. 3A
Yes – 2,243
No – 976
Amendment No. 3B
Yes – 2,026
No – 1,181
Amendment No. 4
Yes – 2,176
No – 1,083
Amendment No. 5
Yes – 2,649
No – 675
T&D Correspondent Lisa B. Stokes can be reached by e-mail at lisastokes@bellsouth.net or by phone at 803-245-5648. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.