It was a light voter turnout Tuesday for Columbia's municipal primary election, with only about 20% of registered voters casting ballots. Two races were decided immediately and another one is headed for a run-off in three weeks.
Please note that the following information is based on the final, but unofficial election results, as of press time Tuesday night. More conclusive details will be published in this Saturday's edition of The Columbian-Progress.
The biggest contest was in the Republican race for alderman-at-large, a post being vacated by incumbent Edward Hough who chose not to seek re-election after serving three terms.
As the night's vote count came to end, the final tally for the at-large seat resulted in a run-off between Reed Houston and Andrea Porter.
In order to have a clear winner for the Republican side, there had to be 50% of the vote, plus one. Since no candidate obtained that many votes, a run-off will be held on April 27.
The other Republican candidates competing for alderman-at-large were Mark Carithers, Richard Lokey and Jerry Tolbert, Jr. The winner of the upcoming run-off between Houston and Porter will face Democrat Gwendolyn Hammond in the general election on June 8.
In the race for Ward 2 alderman, it was a tight contest between incumbent Jason Stringer and Laurie Sturdivant Harvey, both Republicans. In the end, Stringer narrowly edged-out Harvey.
For the Ward 3 position, it was a fight for alderwoman with incumbent Democrat Anna Evans being challenged by former alderwoman Renee Galloway. The night ended with Evans winning the race.
The Ward 4 alderman race will not be decided until the general election with incumbent Republican Mike Smith running against challenger Democrat Brian Foxworth.
Mayor Justin McKenzie and Ward 1 Alderman Wendell Hammond both ran unopposed.
The run-off election for alderman-at-large will be held on April 27, and absentee ballots for that race became available this week on April 7. The general election is set for June 8.
