By Paul Gable
Mark Lazarus and Al Allen are heading into a primary runoff election for the Republican nomination in the special election for Horry County Council chairman.
As there is no Democratic candidate, the runoff, scheduled for March 26th, will inevitably decide the next council chair although a formal general election will be held April 30th. It is not expected any candidate can mount a write-in campaign to knock off the Republican nominee.
Lazarus, a former council member from District 2, jumped into the early lead and held between 37 – 41 percent of the vote total throughout the night, finishing with 40.79 percent.
Allen, the current council member for District 11, won a tight race for second place with newcomer Debbie Harwell. Allen pulled out the runoff spot by less than 1 percent of the vote (24.47 to 23.59 percent).
Former council chairman Liz Gilland ran a disappointing fourth in the race (9.45 percent) and Fonzie Lewis ran a very distant fifth and last (1.69 percent).
The most disappointing factor of the night was the voter turnout. In a county with approximately 170,000 registered voters, only 13,622 total votes were cast. Approximately 8 percent, less than one of every twelve eligible voters showed up at the polls.
Official certification of the results by the Horry County Election Commission will take place March 14th.
SUMMARY REPORT Horry County Unofficial Results
Run Date:03/12/13 County Council Chairman
RUN TIME:09:25 PM March 12, 2013
VOTES PERCENT
PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 125). . . . . 125 100.00
REGISTERED VOTERS – TOTAL . . . . . 0
BALLOTS CAST – TOTAL. . . . . . . 13,622
County Council Chairman
Seat to Fill 1
Al Allen. . . . . . . . . . . 3,316 24.47
Liz Gilland. . . . . . . . . . 1,281 9.45
Debbie Harwell. . . . . . . . . 3,197 23.59
Mark Lazarus . . . . . . . . . 5,528 40.79
Fonzie Lewis . . . . . . . . . 229 1.69
Total . . . . . . . . . 13,551
Maybe voters didn’t turn out because they get tired of electing the SAME OLD career politicians and it really doesn’t matter who wins??