SC

Berkeley County Sheriff’s Race: Battle Brewing

THE ELECTION IS OVER … THE FIGHT IS JUST BEGINNING || By FITSNEWS || Two weeks ago, this website published a report on an alleged “endorsement-for-hire” scam in the Berkeley County, S.C. sheriff’s race.  The story had a huge impact, too, with political consultants telling us it helped determine the…

THE ELECTION IS OVER … THE FIGHT IS JUST BEGINNING

|| By FITSNEWS || Two weeks ago, this website published a report on an alleged “endorsement-for-hire” scam in the Berkeley County, S.C. sheriff’s race.  The story had a huge impact, too, with political consultants telling us it helped determine the outcome of the “Republican” runoff election for this seat.

Last month, candidates Brian Adams and Duane Lewis finished first and second, respectively, in the GOP primary for this office – which was vacated when its prior occupant, Wayne DeWitt, lent his own high-octane chapter to the ongoing saga of lawless Palmetto lawmen.

Adams was the frontrunner heading into the May 5 GOP runoff election, but less than 72 hours before the polls opened one of the other “Republican” candidates – Jerry Merrithew – accused Adams of attempting to bribe him.

Adams denied the allegation, but Merrithew’s claim proved fatal – allowing Lewis to leapfrog him and win the race with 52 percent of the vote.

Now, sources are disputing his account – alleging that the meeting between the two candidates was an attempt by Merrithew to obtain gainful employment, using the prospect of his endorsement as leverage.

“Merrithew and Brian met when Merrithew was considering the possibility of dropping out of the race due to financial difficulties,” one source told us.  “He wanted Brian to promise him a position if he did, and Brian refused.”

Obviously that’s a vastly different narrative than the one Merrithew provided – on the record – just prior to the election.

We’re also told a former statewide official somehow figured into the Merrithew drama – although we have yet to be provided with details of his or her alleged involvement.

Bottom line? This election may be over, but the battle associated with it is clearly just beginning.

Stay tuned for much, much more …

Oh, and for those of you keeping score at home, Lewis faces Democrat Anthony Smalls in a special election on June 9.

***

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7 comments

Anonymous May 19, 2015 at 11:06 am

Sounds like Lewis won the bidding war over Adams.

Reply
E Norma Scok May 19, 2015 at 2:02 pm

Nothing bout Lewis’ diploma mill fake diploma?

Wow, Folks..you gotta start looking at Channel 4 TV..they’re normally only about a week behind.

Reply
Mike at the Beach May 19, 2015 at 5:08 pm

That was a pretty salacious piece o f reporting from what I saw online, but I wouldn’t think that Joe Lunchbox in a place like Berkeley County would be getting too frothed up over that. Was that an issue in the race? Does the Adams guy have a real degree? That could make it interesting, I guess, but numbers are numbers. It will take a straight-up Jesus Christ miracle for the Republican nominee to lose in Berkeley County at this point.

Reply
K-Man May 20, 2015 at 11:16 am

Lewis’ degree was one of the points his supportors used to differentate the two candidates heading into the run off. I wonder if Santee Cooper knows their number 2 security guard has a so called phony degree. I wonder if that would change his employment situation should he lose either to Smalls or on a write in?

Reply
Fits Ain't No Republican May 19, 2015 at 4:48 pm

So?

Lewis is the Republican candidate and he will be elected in this overwhelmingly Republican county.

Everybody knows this.

Reply
Mike at the Beach May 19, 2015 at 5:05 pm

Stop. Facts and boring news will get you skewered on this discussion board…

Reply
MaryGAdkins May 21, 2015 at 9:34 am

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Reply

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