Do you know what district you’re in? ☑
Richland County Council primaries are coming up on June 12. And while elections aren’t until November 6, the deadline to register to vote in S.C. to be *able* to vote in the primaries is this Sunday, May 13. What better time to give you a who’s-who of Rich. Co. council?

This year, five Richland County Council seats are up for grabs with three of those seats facing primary elections on June 12:

☑ District 1: Malinowski vs. Smith (R) | results: Malinowski won and will run unopposed in the Nov. 6 election

☑ District 5: Terracio vs. Brennan (D) | results: Terracio won and will run unopposed in the Nov. 6 election

☑ District 11: Jackson vs. Newton (D) | results: Newton won and will face Zoe Pruitt Owen (R) in the Nov. 6 election

Primaries happen when two contenders of the same party run for the same office. This way, one person is chosen to face the contender of the opposite party in November.

Do you know who your representative is?

(And if they’ll still be there on November 7?)

For the November 2017 Columbia City Council race, voter turnout was 4.5% – a record low since 2010. That means ~95% of you didn’t vote for local officials who will make decisions that could directly affect you. And turnout for primary elections is typically even lower. You can’t complain if you didn’t vote. So hop to it, will ya? 👇

Who’s on Richland County Council?

Richland County Council consists of 11 council members. Each member is elected in the November general elections by their district (some facing primaries before November) to represent that district for a four-year term, beginning the January after the election. Chair + Vice Chair are elected by council to serve one-year terms during council’s first meeting of the year.

Together, County Council is the legislative body of Richland County – adopting and amending ordinances + resolutions; setting budgets; levying County taxes; approving contracts + more through committee meetings and council meetings.

Don’t know your district?

📍 Type in your address here (it’s almost creepy how much info you can find), or

🗺 see the overall district map here.

Get prepared

☑ Learn how to register to vote in S.C. here. To be able to vote in June 12’s primaries:

🗣 Register in-person at the county voter registration office by today, May 11 at 5 p.m.

🖥 Register online or via email or fax by Sunday, May 13, 11:59 p.m.

📪 Send in your registration by mail ASAP (must be postmarked by Monday, May 14)

Here are all the districts, with who holds the Council seat – and who’s running to get it.

District 1 (term ending in 2018)

📍 Irmo/Ballentine/Dutch Fork/White Rock

Who: Bill Malinowski (R)* / Council Vice Chair (had seat since 2007; seeking reelection)

Contender:

Stan Smith (R)*

Primary results: Malinowski won and will run unopposed in the Nov. 6 election.

District 2 (term ending in 2020)

📍 Blythewood/St. Andrews

Who: Joyce Dickerson / Council Chair

District 3 (term ending in 2020)

📍 Arcadia Lakes

Who: Yvonne McBride

District 4 (term ending in 2018)

📍 Main St./North Main/Elmwood/Earlewood

Who: Paul Livingston (D) (seeking reelection)

District 5 (term ending in 2018)

📍 South Main/Devine St./Shandon/Rosewood

Who: Seth Rose (D) (held seat since 2010; not seeking reelection; running for District 72 House seat)

Contenders:

Allison Terracio (D)*
Will Brennan (D)*

Primary results: Terracio won and will run unopposed in the Nov. 6 election.

District 6 (term ending in 2018)

📍 Heathwood/Melrose Heights/Lake Katherine/Trenholm Rd./Fort Jackson Blvd./Hamptons

Who: Greg Pearce (R) (held seat since 1999; not seeking reelection; retiring from municipal govt.)

Contender:

Joe Walker III (R)

District 7 (term ending in 2020)

📍 Dentsville/Killian Rd.

Who: Gwendolyn Kennedy

District 8 (term ending in 2020)

📍 Spring Valley/Sandhill/Hardscrabble Rd.

Who: Jim Manning

District 9 (term ending in 2020)

📍 Pontiac/North Two Notch/Spears Creek Church Rd.

Who: Calvin "Chip" Jackson

District 10 (term ending in 2020)

📍 Lower Richland/Fort Jackson/Hopkins/Gadsden/Eastover

Who: Dalhi Myers

District 11 (term ending in 2018)

📍Horrell Hill/Garners Ferry Rd.

Who: Norman Jackson (D)* (held seat since 2006; seeking reelection)

Contenders:

Chakisse Newton (D)*
Zoe Pruitt Owen (R)

Primary results: Newton won and will face Zoe Pruitt Owen (R) in the Nov. 6 election.

*These contenders will face off in (D) or (R) party primaries for their seat on June 12.

Although our office is in District 4 (shout out to SOCO BullStreet), I personally live in District 5. I’m excited to vote in the June primary for my next Council member – see you at the polls.

To the rest of you, we’ll see you in November.

–Chloe