Withington’s election challenge rejected by party officials

Dick Withington’s challenge to throw out the election results for the 4th District Horry County Council race was rejected by county and state Republican Party officials.

“Our attorney met with the election commission and determined it did not meet the criteria,” said Robert Rabon, chairman of the Horry County GOP.

“The party didn’t say he doesn’t have a claim, but that we are not the place to adjudicate it,” Rabon said.

Withington lost the June primary election to incumbent councilman Gary Loftus -- Loftus captured 73 percent of the vote compared to Withington, who claimed 27 percent.

Withington challenged the results, saying that negative publicity surrounding his March arrest on bribery-related charges and “irregularities” instigated by Loftus cost him the election.

Withington was arrested after he accepted money during an undercover sting operation, that was prompted by an email he sent to several Horry County councilmen including his opponent, asking for “maybe $20,000” to “drop out of the race,” according to a police report.

In his response to Withington’s request, Rabon said that “valid protests typically address qualifications for office including residency, etc. The proper venue for accusations of wrong-doing is civil court, not the county executive committee.”

Withington could not be reached for comment, but in an email response to Rabon, Withington said he is still examining avenues through which to protest the election results.

Asked about the election challenge, Loftus said “it’s over.”

“It is for everybody but him, and if that’s what keeps him going, God bless him,” Loftus said.

“Just to make him mad, I’m going to run in 2020,” Loftus added. “I wasn’t going to run, but now I am.”

While running for the council seat, Withington simultaneously ran in the GOP primary for the state Senate district 34 seat. He won 7 percent of the vote, losing to Reese Boyd and Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, who are now facing each other in a runoff election.

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Withington’s election challenge rejected by party officials."