ELECTORAL IRREGULARITIES ALLEGED
As previously noted, our founding editor Will Folks spent some time in Georgetown, South Carolina during his family vacation earlier this month. This quaint harbor town of 10,000 – located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Black, Great Pee Dee, Waccamaw, and Sampit rivers – is quickly becoming one of our favorite places in the Palmetto State.
It’s got great food, friendly people … and tons of history.
Little did we know, though, that Georgetown is also a hotbed of political intrigue …
While we were on the coast this summer, a partisan primary election took place in the town pitting incumbent mayor Jack Scoville against a field of Democratic challengers.
Scoville narrowly won the first round of voting – but is facing challenger Brendon Moses Barber in a runoff with the winner going up against “Republican” Ron Charlton in November.
Do we care who is elected mayor of Georgetown? Not a bit …
We do care, however, about the integrity of the electoral process in the Palmetto State – and we don’t particularly appreciate it when it gets violated.
Did that happen this month in Georgetown? Possibly …
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According to an anonymous letter circulated to several prominent statewide officials – and to multiple media outlets (including ours) – specific electoral irregularities may have occurred during the June 13 primary election. Not only that, similar electoral irregularities are alleged to have occurred in previous city government races.
We are currently in the process of vetting the information contained in the anonymous letter – which accuses Scoville and one of his campaign employees of benefiting from the alleged irregularities in more than one city-wide election.
“Voters in Georgetown are certainly entitled to know the matters and facts … detailed in this letter,” the anonymous author concluded. “I urge you to look into this matter and inform and protect them.”
We will certainly do our best to do both …
Scoville has previously accused his political opponents of attempting to suppress minority turnout by leveling false allegations against his campaign. He’s even referred the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ).
“The word’s gotten out that if you vote absentee, you may have your ballot challenged,” he told the South Carolina radio network a week before the November 2015 city election.
Scoville’s opponents have previously accused him of trying to scare voters …
We’re not accusing Scoville – or his campaign aide – of anything at this point. Having said that, the contents of the letter clearly warrant further investigation.
Stay tuned …
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