Orangeburg, Calhoun incumbents win; upset in Bamberg coroner’s race

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell cruised to victory with 7,705 votes, or 78.15% of the vote, to Bubba Johnson’s 2,159 votes.

“Thank you for your support,” Ravenell told supporters Tuesday night during a rally. “We remain committed to working hard as well advancing in what we need to do through technology.”

Ravenell also said he wants to hear from those who didn’t vote for him about their areas of concern.

“I am committed to serving everyone in Orangeburg County,” Ravenell said.

Ravenell will not face a challenger in the general election.

Orangeburg County Deputy Coroner Sean Fogle and Montez Haynes will face each other in a runoff on June 25 as neither received more than 50% of the vote.

Fogle received 4,278 votes, or 44.35%, to Haynes’ 3,283 votes, or 34.04%. Valencia Golden was a distant third with 2,084 votes.

People who vote in the Democratic primary can’t participate in Republican primary runoffs, and vice versa.

Orangeburg County Clerk of Court incumbent Winnifa Brown Clark handily defeated challenger Laeisha Bennett in the Democratic primary. Clark received 6,936 votes, or 72.54%, to Bennett’s 2,627 votes.

Clark will not face challengers in the Nov. 5 general election.

“I am just so honored and grateful to continue to serve the citizens of Orangeburg County as clerk of court,” Clark said. “I want to say thank you very much.”

For those who did not vote for her, Clark said, “I will still be their clerk of court.”

“I am honored to serve the rest of this term and the beginning of the next term in January,” Clark said. “I am thankful to everyone that had a part to play in my victory.”

On Orangeburg County Council, two long-standing Democratic incumbents defeated their Democratic challengers: Janie Cooper of District 5 and Johnny Ravenell of District 2.

Cooper received 993 votes, or 62.81%, defeating former Orangeburg County Voter Registration and Elections director Howard Jackson, who received 588 votes.

“I am just delighted and it makes me feel like I have done a good job for my constituents to re-elect me for another four years,” Cooper said. “I promise to do everything I have done in the past and more.”

“The people have spoken and it makes me feel good that they spoke hard enough to keep me in office,” Cooper said.

Johnny Ravenell defeated Orangeburg businessman Johnny Murdaugh Jr. and political newcomer Roshika Oliver.

Ravenell received 972 votes, or 57.08%, while Murdaugh received 480 votes and Oliver received 251 votes.

Ravenell thanked the voters who supported him and those who did not.

“I am still willing to work for the ones who did not support me,” Ravenell said. “I hope they will see the benefits. We are trying to move the county forward and we will do whatever we can to gain their trust and their interest in Orangeburg County.”

Ravenell will face Republican candidate Marty Griffin in the general election.

Bamberg County

Shawn Hanks defeated incumbent Wallace R. Hicks Jr. in the Democratic primary for Bamberg County coroner.

Hanks received 727 votes to Hicks’ 593 votes, according to the unofficial results from the S.C. Election Commission.

Hicks was first elected coroner in 2020.

No Republican filed for the office.

Calhoun County

Calhoun County Council’s incumbents won their primaries on Tuesday.

Richard Carson won the County Council District 1 Republican primary with 179 votes to challenger Curt Roosa’s 109 votes.

Carson will face Democrat Ronald Johnson in November. Johnson received 164 votes to Felicia Ellis’ 111 votes in the Democrat primary for the District 1 seat.

In the County Council District 2 Democratic primary, incumbent Ken Westbury received 270 votes to John Wright’s 206 votes.

Westbury will face Republican Margaret S. Hydie Kirkland in November. She was the only Republican to seek the office.