Staff Writer

The race for the Democratic nomination for Union County Sheriff just got tighter.

The county's election commission met Thursday to certify the results of Tuesday's Democratic and Republican primaries. Chairman Keith Vanderford said there were no changes in the vote totals for the Republican primary. There were, however, a number of changes in the vote totals for the Democratic primary, though Vanderford said the changes did not affect the outcome of any of the races on the ballot.

The sheriff's race was already headed for the June 24 runoff as none of three candidates received a majority of the vote. Unofficial results reported Tuesday night showed incumbent Howard Wells with 2,438 votes to challenger David Taylor's 2,388 votes, a difference of just 50 votes. That difference shrunk Thursday after the commission found that while Wells gained seven votes to bring his total to 2,445, Taylor gained 17 votes to bring his total to 2,405, a difference of just 40 votes.

Third-place finisher Troy Brewington gained one vote, raising his total from 383 to 384.

The winner of the runoff will face Republican Freddie Gault in November.

In Union County Council District 2, Joseph Gilliam gained one vote raising his total to 260. Incumbent Dora Martin gained no additional votes leaving her total at 510 votes.

The race for Union County Council District 3 also tightened slightly with incumbent Tommy Ford gaining three votes to raise his total to 402 while challenger Billy McKinney gained four, increasing his total to 342. Third place finisher Melissa Brown gained a vote for a total of 182.

Ford and McKinney will face each other in the runoff.

Union County Council District 6 incumbent Joe Lawson gained three votes to raise his total to 414. Challenger Kacie Petrie's total remained the same at 498 votes.

No Republicans are running in Districts 2, 3 and 6.

The State Senate District 17 race also tightened slightly with first place finisher Creighton Coleman receiving 811 votes, an increase of four. Second-place finisher Leah Moody received 690 votes, an increase of five. Third place finisher Michael Squirewell received 438 votes, an increase of three.

Coleman and Ms. Moody will meet in the runoff and the winner will face Republican Mark Bennett in November.

The District 17 seat is being left vacant by the retirement of Sen. Linda Short.

In the Fourth Congressional District race, Michael Corden received 1,865 votes, an increase of nine. Ted Christian received 1,450 votes, an increase of four. Bryan McCanless received 1,221 votes, an increase of seven.

Corden and Christian will meet in the runoff and the winner will face incumbent Bob Inglis in November.

Vanderford said he was notified of the State Election Commission's intention to conduct a statewide recount of the race between Michael Cone and Bob Conley. He said the commission will recount the ballots cast in that race to help determine a winner.

Cone and Conley each received 50 percent of the ballots cast in the Democratic primary. In Union County, Cone originally received 1,570 votes but his total grew by six to 1,576 on Thursday. Conley originally received 2,838 cotes, but his total grew by 12 to 2,850.

Voters are reminded that if they voted Tuesday they can only vote the same party in the runoff as they did in the primary. Those who did not vote may vote in either the Democratic or Republican runoff.

South Carolina law does not permit ticket splitting during party primaries and runoffs. In the November general election, however, voters may cast their ballots for both Democrats and Republicans as well as minor party candidates.