A corruption scandal that led to an unusual but history-making election was the top story of 2008 in Union County.

Union Mayor Bruce Morgan and Building and Zoning Inspector Jeff Lawson were indicted on federal extortion charges on July 17, just hours after Morgan announced his resignation.

The seven-count indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury, alleged that Morgan and Lawson had conspired to extort over $30,000 in bribes or kickbacks from contractors seeking to do business with the city.

As mayor, Morgan was paid an annual salary of $103,545. Lawson was paid $62,376.

Lawson was still employed with the city but was on administrative leave without pay when the indictment was announced. After being indicted he was fired by acting mayor Harold Thompson.

In September, standing alongside two bank robbers and a drug dealer, Morgan and Lawson pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy before federal judge Henry Floyd. Federal prosecutors dropped the rest of the charges in exchange for the pleas. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

No sentencing date has been set for either man.

Elections

Morgan’s resignation led to the most unusual election in Union’s history.

Morgan was unopposed for a third term at the time of his resignation. State law prohibited filing from reopening, requiring Morgan’s successor to be chosen by write-in ballot. Twelve people announced their candidacy, including Thompson.

Election night made history when Thompson was elected Union’s first black mayor with 35 percent of the vote, twice that of his nearest competitor.

With Thompson’s election, three of Union County’s four incorporated municipalities have black mayors. In April, Ernest Moore was elected mayor of Jonesville, becoming the town’s first black mayor.

Carlisle has had black mayors since the 1970s and in November Radzil Thompson, the first black man to hold the office, was defeated for re-election by town council member Mary Ferguson Glenn. Mrs. Glenn is the third black woman to serve as the town’s mayor.

In Lockhart, Ailene Ashe was returned to the office she held for more than six years before resigning in June 2007 to care for her husband. In the past 18 months, Lockhart had two mayors resign (Mrs. Ashe and Dean Bentley) and one die in office (Robert “Beaver” Canupp). The town held three special elections during that time. Mrs. Ashe will serve four months until the regular mayoral election in March 2009.

Sheriff

The other major election in Union County was for sheriff.

Four-term incumbent Howard Wells was challenged by David Taylor and Troy Brewington for the Democratic nomination. The winner would face Republican Freddie Gault in November.

Wells won a narrow victory in the June primary but fell short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff with Taylor. Taylor prevailed in the runoff and went on to win a near-landslide victory over both Gault and a write-in campaign mounted by Wells supporters.