Loftus, Prince, Hardee win County Council races

Horry County Councilman Gary Loftus soundly beat back a challenge from Dick Withington, who was running for two separate political offices and faces a criminal charge of offering to withdraw from one race for money.

Loftus, who represents the 4th district, is the unofficial winner with 73 percent, while Withington collected 27 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results after Tuesday’s election.

Asked what his first priority will be, Loftus responded: “I’ve got to go pick up a lot of campaign signs.”

In the 9th district council race between incumbent Paul Prince and Horry County Police Officer Terry Fowler, Prince was the unofficial winner with 55 percent compared to Fowler with 45 percent.

The volunteer firefighter who has served on the council for 25 years watched the election results from home with his wife. Reached by phone, Prince said he planned on “serving the people like I’ve always been.

“I’ve always been open to everyone who calls and wants to talk to me, and I’ll continue to do everything I can to make the county more efficient and effective, and keep a close eye on all of the departments.

“I want to make sure we get the police department fully staffed with a lot of good officers, so we can cut out some of this crime,” Prince said.

Danny Hardee picked up the 10th district seat now held by Jody Prince, who did not run for re-election.

Hardee captured 63 percent of the vote, while his opponent Devon Blackwell carried 37 percent.

“I’m going to represent the people however they need me,” Hardee said. “Whether they need me to bring a shovel or a legal pad, I’ll be there for them.”

Hardee said that he and Blackwell vowed to run a clean campaign with no negative ads and to leave each other’s campaign signs alone.

“I had a lot of good people helping me, and by the grace of God and with his help, we made it,” Hardee said.

There are no Democratic candidates running for the 9th and 10th districts, so the primary victors in Tuesday’s race will assume that office in 2017.

The only Republican candidate to face Democratic opposition in the November election will be the winner of the 4th District, who is being challenged by Robin Gause, 51, of Burgess.

“It ain’t over, I’ve still got to get through the November election,” Loftus said. “There’s no telling what will happen, I’m always concerned when another name is on the ballot.”

The 4th district race drew attention after Withington, a 73-year-old retired businessman, was charged with unlawful inducement to file for or withdraw from candidacy related to the county council race.

Withington was also running as a Republican candidate in the primary race for State Senate District 34.

Withington has been granted a jury trial on the charges, which stem from an email he sent in March to several Horry County councilmen including Loftus, saying that for $20,000 he would drop out of the race and run for the state Senate

“In order for me to switch to Senate 34, which I am OK with, I will need immediate substantial donations, offers of further support and endorsements,” Withington wrote in the email. “If this should occur in the next few days, I can change my filing, and even endorse (redacted), if the facts should so warrant.”

This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 9:44 PM with the headline "Loftus, Prince, Hardee win County Council races."