Friday, March 5, 2010

Hilliard, Gilmore file in Santee mayoral race Seabrooks not seeking re-election

By MARTHA ROSE BROWN, T&D Correspondent Friday, March 05, 2010

Mayor Silas Seabrooks, who says he’s served the town as mayor for a total of 22 years, declined to comment about his decision not to run for another four-year term. He said he would comment about the upcoming election and his reflections on his service to the town at a later time.

Two candidates have entered the mayoral contest: Santee Town Councilman John Mark Gilmore and Donnie L. Hilliard, former Santee town administrator and Orangeburg County administrator.

Also up for grabs are two seats on Santee Town Council.

Incumbents Cleveland Gilmore and Shirley Upton are seeking re-election, and challengers Roosevelt Hezekiah and Gregory S. King are also vying for a seat on council.

Terms for both the mayor’s job and the council seats are four years.

Santee Town Clerk Rebecca Wright said no write-in candidates filed. Filing for candidates ended Feb. 12.

When Santee voters head to the polls next month, they will have the option of choosing a mayor and two of the four candidates to serve as council members.

According to the Orangeburg County Office of Voter Registration and Elections Commission, Santee residents not yet registered to vote in the April 13 election must register by March 13.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, at the Santee Family Development Center at 210 Brooks Blvd. near Santee Town Hall.

The Municipal Board of Canvassers will hold a certification hearing to determine the validity of all provisional ballots cast in the municipal election at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 15, in the Council Chambers at Santee Town Hall.

Contact the writer: marfawose@aol.com.

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