“A lot of chatter” is the way one local political official describes the keen interest in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

With nine local Democratic primary races in Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties, there’s plenty to generate election interest.

In Orangeburg County, Sheriff Larry Williams is being challenged by two former deputies, John Cokley and Allen Kinsey. Clerk of Court Lisa Mizell faces former Deputy Clerk Winnifa Clark. And Coroner Samuetta Marshall is being challenged by David Pendarvis.

In County Council District 4, Councilman Heyward Livingston is opposed by Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four trustee Joseph Garvin. None of the primary winners has opposition in the November general election.

Also in Orangeburg County, the House District 66 race features incumbent Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter and challenger Priscilla Glover-Robinson. The winner of the primary will face Republican Tim Hawkins in the November general election.

Despite the countywide interest, Orangeburg County Democratic Party Chairman Betty Henderson says she doesn’t “think it will be anything like the presidential primary.”

A heavy turnout of Democrats went to the polls in January to support Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, who carried every precinct.

“It’s been an exciting year for Democrats. ... There are some new registered voters. I hope people will take advantage of early voting or come out on Tuesday and have a large turnout,” she said. “Even though the Democrats have been really busy this year, it’s just great training for the November general election.”

The Bamberg County sheriff’s race pits 30-year veteran Sheriff Ed Darnell against Kenneth Bamberg and Douglas Stokes. In the race for two County Council seats, District 1 Councilman Chris Wilson is being challenged by Marion Dwight IV, while in District 4, Councilman Clair Guess is opposed by Perry Hutto. The primary winners do not have Republican opposition in the November general election.

The only local Democratic primary race in Calhoun County is between Sheriff Thomas Summers and challenger Lin Shirer. The winner will face Republican A.J. Logan in the general election.

In addition to the local Democratic primary races, candidates for the U.S. Senate and the 2nd U.S. Congressional District will also be on the ballots for both parties.

In the GOP primary, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is being challenged by Buddy Witherspoon. Also, 2nd U.S. Congressional District Rep. Joe Wilson is opposed by Phil Black.

For Democrats, Michael Cone and Bob Conley are vying for the U.S. Senate nomination. In the 2nd U.S. Congressional District, the candidates for the nomination are Blaine Lotz and Robert Miller.

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Voters can cast a ballot in either the Democratic or Republican primary, but not both. Therefore, voters should be prepared when they go to the polls to state which primary -- Democratic or Republican.

With three candidates running for sheriff in both Orangeburg and Bamberg counties, a Democratic primary runoff election on June 24 is possible.

In the case of a runoff, the only voters who could participate are those who voted in the Democratic primary on June 10 or those who did not vote at all.

n T&D Government Write Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545.

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