June 10 is a day Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams calls “Super Tuesday.”
That is when voters will decide whether to accept Williams’ message of being a proven sheriff or adopt either Bowman Police Chief Allen Kinsey or John Cokley’s mantra of change.
While they have vigorously disagreed on whether the current state of the sheriff’s office is effective, they universally agree that the final campaign push toward Tuesday is critical.
“It’s showtime,” said Williams, who has been the sheriff for eight years.
The winner of the primary will be the sheriff-in-waiting since there is no general election opposition in November.
The three candidates vying to be the county’s top law enforcement officer are using mostly traditional campaign tactics such as visiting towns, shaking hands and advertising.
But Cokley, a former narcotics captain at the OCSO, is using the latest political medium for getting his message out, the Internet. On his Web site, voters can research his background and goals for the office.
“I always say that people that are informed can make the best decisions,” Cokley said. His campaign may be a merger of both new and old strategies but at heart is a grassroots effort.
Over at Williams’ camp, he says his record over the last eight years will sell itself. “I think the campaigning starts the day after the last election. I’ve been running for four years,” he said.
Williams said his office, located at 1000-C Chestnut St., has a family-friendly atmosphere where children can get a piece of gum or fruit while their parents can review his accomplishments.
Kinsey has had his headquarters, located at 112 Rodriguez Court in Orangeburg, open since March. There, interested parties can pick up pamphlets on his qualifications and vision. He says a fair amount of people have been visiting the headquarters looking for an alternative to Williams.
“I want to be their sheriff for the people and of the people,” said Kinsey, whose main outlet of campaigning is simply talking with voters about his motto of community policing.
He has even used vacation time and spent entire weekends to meet and connect with voters.
“I’m planning on spending as much time with the public as we can,” he said. “I’m not doing anything special. I’m just being myself.”
Both Williams and Cokley are doing that as well. “I plan to commit myself as I have every day,” said Williams, who said he is running a character-driven campaign by refraining from negative attacks.
Cokley said he is reaching out to voters across the county by attending different functions and churches. He said he has talked to many individuals who say Williams has neglected them, specifically citing the western portion of the county.
“I assured them help is on the way,” Cokley said.
Williams called that political rhetoric and said no area of Orangeburg County is neglected by his department.
All three candidates participated in a forum conducted by the Orangeburg branch of the NAACP last month. On Saturday, they all greeted voters at an event held at the Holly Hill Depot.
The candidates all have an extensive group of volunteers working on their behalf. According to their statements, Williams has the largest group of volunteers with 80.
Meanwhile, Cokley’s organization features a large cast led by a core group of nine supporters that includes his parents. That group is canvassing the county in hopes of garnering enthusiasm for the campaign.
“I have so many volunteers that I couldn’t name them all. They talk to people in the community and at supermarkets and barbershops,” he said.
Kinsey said he has 12 supporters who are performing odds and ends on the campaign trail. Their duties include writing campaign literature, setting up appointments for Kinsey and answering phones.
On June 10, the trio will spend the day with a mixture of excitement, prayer, relief and anxiousness.
“My celebration is that I will have a prayer before and after the primary. I thank God for the opportunity. I thank God for the citizens,” Williams said.
After consulting with God, Cokley plans to spend election night alone in prayer. He said that he will be happy once the process is over and voters have selected him.
For Kinsey supporters, there will be a get-together at his campaign headquarters. But first Kinsey plans to vote.
When asked who he might vote for, he shrewdly replied, “I’m going to vote for the right person.”
n T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories at www.TheTandD.com.