Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
YORK COUNTY — Nearly all incumbent candidates kept their seats on Election Day across York County as voters cast their ballots to fill three-dozen positions in local government. On a day with six mayoral races and more than 30 council seats up for grabs in nonpartisan races across nine cities and towns, unofficial results show only one elected leader was voted out of office, while another faces the chance of a run-off election. Rock Hill turned over two City Council seats, the city of Tega Cay elected its first woman as Mayor and two races in western York County will have to wait to be called. Rock Hill Voters backed a new voice and the return of a former councilmember to fill two contested seats on Rock Hill City Council. Nikita Jackson will head back to City Council to represent Ward 5 after defeating incumbent Perry Sutton after receiving 53 percent of the vote. Jackson most recently chaired the York County Democratic Party after serving a term on council and being unseated by Sutton in a tight race that took two ballots in 2022. “The people asked me to put my name back on the ballot and the people spoke,” Jackson told The Post and Courier. Sutton congratulated Jackson on social media, encouraging unity to support revitalization on the city’s Southside. Sarah Emerson Vining will take over an open seat in District 6. The downtown business owner received more than 58 percent of the vote in a contest against realtor Nate Mallard. Vining expressed gratitude to the voters and excitement for the four-year term ahead. “This campaign has always been about the people of Rock Hill and our shared vision for it’s future,” she said in a statement. “I am committed to listening and leading with heart. I look forward to working with all residents to help move Rock Hill forward.” Mallard told The Post and Courier he left it all on the field and will continue to support the city through his work with the Come See Me Festival. Incumbent John Black III will serve another term after being unchallenged in Ward 4. Mayor John Gettys also ran unopposed and will serve a third term at the helm of the city. This is the first year Rock Hill’s city elections have aligned with the rest of the county. Tega Cay Residents in Tega Cay backed Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Miller to take over as Mayor, according to the unofficial vote count. Miller received 49 percent of the vote over a pair of challengers, Alice Dobleske and John Tukker. Incumbent Mayor Chris Gray chose not to seek reelection. Two open at-large City Council seats also have been claimed. Councilman Thomas Hyslip is poised to retain his seat after receiving more than 36 percent of the vote. He’ll be joined by community advocate Heather Jones, who leads former city councilmember Ron Kirby by about 1.5 percent — 77 votes. Fort Mill Three seats on Town Council in Fort Mill were unchallenged and will head back to the incumbent. Councilmembers Allen Garrison, Ben Hudgins and Chris Wolfe are all bound to keep their seats. York Three council seats on the ballot in York only produced one competitive race. In District 6, incumbent Kellie Wine Harrold leads Bob Gray with 55 percent of the vote. Councilmembers Matthew Hickey and Charles Brewer both ran uncontested this fall. Clover Clover voters had two elections, including the most crowded ballot in the county. Eleven candidates were in the running for three open seats on Town Council. Incumbents Teresa Hurst and Jason Manos received the most votes, north of 16 percent. Kathy Rae Brewer leads Jeffrey Becker for the final spot, but the margin is nine votes — about a half-percent — which would prompt a recount. In a special election, Joyce Jackson was the only candidate to fill the remaining term of a former council member is expected. She will have the seat through the end of 2027. McConnells The final spot in the race for town council in McConnells appears headed for a run-off. Unofficial results have incumbents Bill Covington, Liz Christenberry and James Sciba retaining their seats. Councilman James Hoban is tied with Kelley Stewart for the last council seat, each candidate received 36 total votes. McConnells Mayor Bill Nance is ahead in the race for another four-year term. He leads Bryan Jenkins — who also ran for mayor in 2023 — by seven votes. Smyrna Residents in the small town of Smyrna backed incumbent Mayor Robert Faulkner Jr. for another term. He leads sitting councilmember Kirsta Green by eight votes, in a race with 34 ballots cast. Faulkner Jr.’s father — Robert Faulkner Sr. — is the leading vote-getter for four spots on Smyrna Town Council. He’s the lone incumbent in the race which has Tyler Nivens, Ann Wilson and Jeff Wilson also in position to take council seats. Sharon Voters in Sharon also favored the incumbent. Mayor Nancy Perkins received 53-percent over challenger Jennifer Ramsey, according to the unofficial results
