Sheriff, Senate Dist. 22 Candidates Face Opposition
BLYTHEWOOD – All three of Blythewood’s county council representatives will be on the ballot in November, and all three are unopposed. Derrek Pugh, District 2; Gretchen Barron, District 7; and Jesica Mackey, District 9, were all elected the same year and are all seeking second terms.
Pugh, a 20+ year resident of District 2, is currently vice chair of council and represents parts of Columbia and much of Blythewood. He was elected to office in 2020. Before serving on council, he served as vice chairman for the Board of Zoning and Appeals and planning commissioner for the Town of Blythewood. He has also served as a board member for the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce.
Barron represents District 7, which includes Blythewood, Killian and various sections of North Columbia. Barron has been engaged in educational program implementation and management for nearly 20 years. In 2005, Barron established Barron Academy, which provides after-school programs, summer camps and one-on-one tutoring primarily to high-poverty, low-performing schools in South Carolina.
Mackey represents a small area on the east side of Blythewood as well as Northeast Columbia. She serves on the boards of the United Way of the Midlands and the S.C. chapter of Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS).
Sheriff’s race
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, a Democrat, will face Republican challenger Jim Walker.
Leon Lott has almost 50 years in law enforcement and has served Richland County as Sheriff since 1996. He is seeking his eighth four-year term as Sheriff.
Jim Walker, a retired Sheriff’s deputy, has filed to run against Sheriff Lott. Walker retired from the Richland County Sheriff’s department in 2015 after almost 15 years of service.
State Senate Dist. 22
In the race for the District 22 State Senate seat being vacated by Mia McCloud, Democrat Overture Walker will face SC Workers Party candidate Gary Votour.
Overture Walker, an attorney, previously served four years, including as chairman, on the Richland County Council. Disrict 22 includes the part of Blythewood that lies to the East side of I-77.
Gary Votour
The Voice was unable to reach the candidate before going to press.
More information about the candidates will appear later in The Voice.