All of the incumbents on the ballot for the Scotland County Board of Commissioners won their primary races on Tuesday, effectively securing reelection barring a third party or write-in challenge in November.
The victorious incumbents are taking the win as evidence of the the public’s approval of their work.
“I think that these results show that folks are satisfied with the direction that we are headed in,” said current Board Chairman Bob Davis, who defeated challenger Ken Haney by a sum of 2,783 to 1,998 votes in the Williamson Democratic primary.
While pleased with his primary success, Davis also acknowledged the difficult work that will face the board in the coming months and years.
“There are a lot of new issues that we are facing, and they are tough issues,” said Davis. “We just have to keep being smart, good stewards of the taxpayers’ money.”
Incumbent Commissioner John Alford defeated current school board member Jimmy Bennett in voting for the Laurel Hill seat by a total of 2,736 to 2,212 votes, crediting his “straightforward” philosophy and honesty with the win.
“People know when you are really being sincere about the county and when you really care about them,” said Alford.
Alford also thinks that his positive campaign and his refusal to attack the opposition resonated with voters.
“I don’t have personal vendettas and I don’t attack folks,” said Alford, adding that he “just stick(s) to the issues and (tries) to help the people.”
During his campaign Alford observed that the people of Scotland County were most concerned with avoiding further tax increases and avoiding deeper cuts to social services, both of which he said that he does not anticipate occurring in the foreseeable future.
The evening’s only victor not currently serving on the board was former and long-time Scotland County Clerk of Superior Court Whit Gibson, who won the at-large seat being vacated by Commissioner Joyce McDow, defeating Daniel Jermaine Dockery 3,285 to 1,734 votes.
Gibson acknowledged the role his name recognition played in the win, saying that he was “able to be in a position that helped impact people’s lives” as clerk of court, which made him a known quantity in the community.
“They appreciated that, and I feel really good about what we did in our campaign,” said Gibson.
“I probably put 200 miles on the car today,” said Gibson, who visited every voting site “at least twice” in an effort to support his campaign volunteers at the various locations.
Also coming out on top was Stewartsville’s Clarence McPhatter II, who claimed a 2,954 to 1,961 win over challenger Shelley Strickland.
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