Polk County Democrats

There are always elections coming up.  The Federal, State, and County slates are clear for 2009, but in these off-years it's the municipal elections that take center stage, this year on November 3. This page followed the run-up to these elections, and that information remains, but let's get right down to the results:

Columbus

Columbus has a new mayor.  The Republican Kathleen McMillian was beaten handily by the unaffiliated James McIntyre. 

For the town council, incumbent Democrat Margaret Metcalf and Democratic challenger Ernie Kan won, and Republican incumbent Michael Gage was re-elected.  Incumbent Republican Ricky McAllister and unaffiliated David Weiss lost their bids for seats.

Saluda

We lost a big one in Saluda: Democratic Mayor Rodney Gibson was soundly beated by Republican Fred Baisden.  Unaffiliated John Morgan was second, only barely beaten, and Gibson finished far behind.

For council, Democrat Johnnie Kinard and unaffiliated George Sweet won the two seats, with Sweet winning big and Kinard barely edging out Democratic challenger Hop Foster.

Tryon

The big news is in Tryon.  Yes, the annexation-freak Republican Alan Peoples was re-elected mayor (he was, to our embarrassment, unopposed), but the Republican incumbents on the council were both defeated.

The new council members are Wim Woody and Doug Arbogast, not Democrats to be sure, but evidence that our friends in Tryon want to go in a different direction.  Good for them.

Now, the background:

The municipal demographics for Democrats in Polk County are abyssmal.  In Columbus, the mayor is Republican as are three of the four council members; in Saluda, the mayor is a Democrat as is one council member, but the three others are Republican or unaffiliated; in Tryon, the mayor is Republican as are two of the councilmen, along with one Unaffiliated and a lone Democrat.

We had hoped for 2009 to be the year of candidate recruitment for these important municipal offices, but it was not to be: only one Democrat (Ernie Kan of Columbus) is challenging any of the incumbents. 

Remember that municipal elections are open only to people who reside within the town limits of the three towns; people living in the surrounding townships do not pay taxes to the towns and are not on the rolls for these elections.  The Polk County Board of Elections runs these elections, as it does all others.

Here are the specific offices on the ballot in November:

Columbus

Mayor, currently Republican Kathleen McMillian

Town Council:

  Democrat Margaret Metcalf

  Republican Ricky McAllister

  Republican Michael Gage

The seat of Republican Richard Hall is not on the ballot this cycle.

Filing for election, final list: Kathleen McMillian for re-election as mayor, Eric McIntyre (Unaffiliated) to oppose her; Michael Gage, Ricky McAllister, and Margaret Metcalf, to retain their seats; Democrat Ernie Kan, and David Weiss (Unaffiliated) to oppose them.

Saluda

Mayor, currently Democrat Rodney Gibson

Town Council:

  Democrat Johnnie Kinard

  Unaffiliated Laura Fields

Council members Leon Morgan and John Morgan are not up for election this cycle.

Filing for election, final list: Rodney Gibson to retain his seat as mayor, challenged by Republican Fred Baisden and John Morgan (Unaffiliated); Johnnie Kinard and Laura Fields to retain their seats, challenged by  George Sweet (Unaffiliated), and Democrat William "Hop" Foster.  After filing to retain her seat, Laura Fields withdrew from the race but too late to have her name removed from the ballot.  Saluda voters should honor her wishes and vote for another candidate.

Tryon

Mayor: Republican Allen Peoples

Town Council:

  Unaffiliated Dennis Durham

  Republican Jim Scott

Councilmen Roy Miller (D) and Austin Chapman (R) are not up this cycle.

Mayor Peoples and Councilmen Durham and Scott are staunch proponents of forced annexation, and we utterly oppose their re-election.

Filing for election, final list: Alan Peoples, running unopposed to retain his seat as mayor; Republican Jim Scott and Dennis Durham (Unaffiliated) to retain their council seats, Doug Arbogast (Unaffiliated), Republican Wim Woody, and Seth Davis (Unaffiliated) to oppose them.

Filing Period: Closed

Candidates for these offices had to file with the Polk County Board of Elections (Womack Building, Columbus) between July 6 and noon on July 17.  The deadline has long passed.

Early Voting begins Thursday, October 15, at the Board of Elections office in the Womack Building in Columbus, and continues each business day until October 30, from 8:30 - 5:00.  There will be a special Saturday session on October 31 from 8:30 to 1:00. 

There will be no satellite locations; voters from all three towns will vote at the Womack Building.

Absentee Ballots may be requested from the Board of Elections at any time, but must be received by the BOE by the close of business (5:00 pm) Monday, November 2.

Election Day

November 3, 2009.

Voting on Election Day will be at the normal polling places in Tryon and Saluda (Harmon Field and the Fire Department, respectively), but the polling place for Columbus will be the Columbus Town Hall.