ST. MATTHEWS, S.C. - Based on the bitterly fought school trustee races of the past, the upcoming Calhoun County District School Board election shows promise of being every bit as fractious.
Seven candidates, including a former controversial school superintendent, are in the running for two of the three nonpartisan positions to be filled in the November general election.
Former board Chairman Michael Drake, who is seeking a third four-year term, is being challenged in District 4 by Dr. Ernest “Bucky” Stokes and Joyce Jones Parrish.
Stokes held the top administrative spot for four years before resigning in 1993. In the aftermath of a contentious bond issue and board upheaval in 1988, the superintendent came under fire for the purchase of alcoholic beverages for after-hours school/business patrons’ events with district funds. Also, Stokes and trustees were the targets of complaints over per-diem expenses.
As a result, the three incumbent school board trustees who were up for re-election in 1992 were ousted and the superintendent announced his resignation a month later.
In 2004, Jones Parrish filed for the District 4 seat but then withdrew as a candidate. According to an election official, her explanation was that she was taking a position as a teacher in a critical needs area of the school district.
In District 1, incumbent Trustee Gary Porth is facing opposition from three political newcomers: Melody Inabinet Peding, Scott Segars and Tommie J. Glover.
Porth, who was representing District 4 at the time, was defeated in 1992 after serving one term. He subsequently won a seat on the board representing District 1 in 1996.
Only District 3 Trustee Sandra Tucker will not have opposition.
In Orangeburg County, no one filed statements of candidacy for the three seats up on the Horse Range Watershed District. Write-in votes will determine the trustees. The three incumbents on the Holly Hill-area board are Lawton Brown, Milton Gaines and Timothy Prezzy.
Nonpartisan candidates who filed statements of candidacy will be on the ballot in the November general election. The filing period for those statements of candidacy ended Aug. 15.
T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545.