Election Update: The Nov. 4 Ballot

Which candidates and what State Constitutional Amendments will be on the Nov. 4 ballot here in Spartanburg? Here’s the run-down from the Office of Registrations and Elections. Where possible, we’ve added the candidates’ campaign websites.

Federal, State and Multi-County Offices

• President & Vice President: Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente (Green Party), John McCain/Sarah Palin (Republican), Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root (Libertarian), Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez (By Petition), Barack Obama/Joe Biden (Democratic), Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle (Constitution)
• U.S. Senate: Lindsey Graham (Republican), Bob Conley (Democratic)
• U.S. House of Representatives District 04: C. Faye Walters (Green Party), Bob Inglis (Republican), Paul Corden (Democratic)
• State Senate District 11: Mike Gardner (Republican), Glenn Reese (Democratic)
• State Senate District 12: Lee Bright (Republican, uncontested)
• State Senate District 13: Shane Martin (Republican), Jimmy Tobias (Democratic)
• State Senate District 14: Harvey Peeler (Republican, uncontested)
• State House of Representatives District 31: Harold Mitchell, Jr. (Democratic, uncontested)
• State House of Representatives District 32: Derham Cole, Jr. (Republican), Will Rothschild (Democratic)
• State House of Representatives District 33: Lanny Littlejohn (Republican), Weldon Davis (Democratic)
• State House of Representatives District 34: Mike Forrester (Republican, uncontested)
• State House of Representatives District: 35: Keith Kelly (Republican, uncontested)
• State House of Representatives District 36: Rita Allison (Republican, uncontested)
• State House of Representatives District 37: Steve Parker (Republican), Eric Hayler (Democratic)
• State House of Representatives District 38: Joey Millwood (Republican), Mark N. Chambers (Democratic)
• State House of Representatives District 42: Mike Anthony (Democratic, uncontested)

Spartanburg County Races

• Spartanburg County Clerk of Court: Mark Kitchens (Republican, uncontested)
• Sheriff: Chuck Wright (Republican, uncontested)
• Spartanburg County Coroner: Rusty Clevenger (Republican), Paula “Punky” Brewster (Democratic)
• Spartanburg County Council District 1: Donna Hicks (Republican), Michael Brown (Democratic)
• Spartanburg County Council District 3: David Britt (Republican, uncontested)
• Spartanburg County Council District 4: Jane Hall (Republican, uncontested)
• Soil & Water District Commissioner: Non Partisan — Bryan E. Johnson
• Mayor – Woodruff: Non Partisan — Paul V. Bell, W. Brad Burnett, Marty Smith
• Woodruff City Council, Ward 1: Non Partisan — T C Teresa Brooks, Mattie Norman
• Woodruff City Council, Ward 3: Non Partisan — William E. “Buddy” Arnold, Patty Kiser Hill
• Woodruff City Council, Ward 5: Non Partisan — Jennifer Calderon, Tony L. Kennedy, Suni D. McMath
• Thicketty Creek Watershed Commissioner: Non Partisan — Earby Cash, Jack E. McAbee, Robert J. Perrine
• Sanitary Sewer Commissioners: No candidates
• Woodruff/Roebuck Water Commissioners: Non Partisan — Gary P. Kirkland, Niles R. Brown, Jr.
• Cherokee Springs Fire District Commissioners: Non Partisan (5 postions) — Jack Davis, Robbie Easler, Jon Garner, Thomas “Tommy” Jackson, Heidi Faber Kerns, Herman Ledbetter, George D. O’Bryant, Dwight M. Easler, Sr.
• Hilltop Springs Fire District: Non Partisan (2 positions) — M. Todd Brady, Paige Jordan, Joe Pack

Statewide Constitutional Amendments

• South Carolina Amendment 1: “The amendment deletes the part of Section 33, Article III of the South Carolina Constitution which says an unmarried woman must be fourteen years old or older in order to consent to sexual intercourse. Deleting the section would allow the state legislature to set the age of consent. Currently, the state legislature has, for most cases, set the age of consent at sixteen. A ‘yes’ vote agrees with the idea of deleting the section from the Constitution and let the state legislature set the age of consent. A ‘no’ vote means the voter wants to leave the relevant section of the Constitution in place.” Source: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/South_Carolina_Amendment_1_(2008)
• South Carolina Amendment 2: “The proposed amendment would change 16, Article X of the South Carolina Constitution, which relates to benefits and funding of public employee pension plans and the investments allowed for funds of the various state-operated retirement systems. Article X would be amended so as to provide that the funds of any trust fund established by law for the funding of post-employment benefits for state employees and public school teachers may be invested and reinvested in equity securities subject to the same limitations on such investments applicable for the funds of the various state-operated retirement systems. “Post-employment benefits” are benefits provided to eligible state government and school district retirees. South Carolina has created trust funds to pay for post-employment benefits. The proposed amendment relates to how the money in these trust funds can be invested. A ‘yes’ vote gives the state government the option to invest these funds in equity securities (stocks). A ‘no’ vote means that state government is not allowed to invest these funds in any kind of equity securities (stocks).” Source: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/South_Carolina_Amendment_2_(2008)
• South Carolina Amendment 3: “The proposed amendment would change 16, Article X of the South Carolina Constitution, which relates to benefits and funding of local public employee pension plans and the investments allowed for funds of the various state-operated retirement systems. “Post-employment benefits” are benefits provided to eligible state government and school district retirees. South Carolina has created trust funds to pay for post-employment benefits. The proposed amendment relates to how the money in these trust funds can be invested. A “yes” vote gives the state government the option to invest these funds in equity securities (stocks). A “no” vote means that state government is not allowed to invest these funds in any kind of equity securities (stocks).” Source: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/South_Carolina_Amendment_3_(2008)