Greenville County voters cast their primary election votes in six council races during the South Carolina Statewide Primary on Tuesday, June 11.
In total, 58,268 ballots were cast in Greenville County for the 2024 South Carolina primary as the election day surprises include Kelly Long winning over Michael Barnes in the District 18 race and Gaery Collins unseating Butch Kirven, who is the incumbent in District 27.
"The people have spoken, and we need to collectively come together and take care of the people," Collins said to The Greenville News. He emphasized the importance of infrastructure control and growth, transparency on the council and putting the community's voices into action.
The polls opened from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and election results were expected shortly after the polls closed, according to Conway Belangia, director of Greenville County Voter Registration and Elections.
Around 8 p.m., Belangia announced a machine-tallying malfunction at the Thornblad voting location. The ballots were later brought to the McAlister Square building to be counted in the Greenville County Elections Office.
Here are the candidates and vote tallies for each of the contested Greenville County Council races:
Greenville County District 18
With 100% of precincts reporting, Kelly Long won over Michael Barnes 3,216-2,196.
Michael Barnes serves on the Planning and Development Committee and is chairman of the Public Safety and Human Services Committee. He is the incumbent for District 18 and has previous experience serving on the Greenville County Planning Commission.
Kelly Long has more than 30 years of banking and finance experience. She also is a mortgage broker. Her key issues are ethical growth over overdevelopment, transparency with the budget and constitutional conservatism.
Greenville County Council District 20
With 100% of precincts reporting, Steve Shaw leads Alex Reynolds and Ken Matesevac, 2,923-2,400-1,578.
Shaw and Reynolds will face off in a runoff election on June 25.
Steve Shaw has been in the Greenville County Council District 20 seat since 2020. He is a lawyer seeking to revoke new taxes, stop overdevelopment, and obtain money from the state to benefit the county's roads.
Ken Matesevac is a Bob Jones University graduate and District 20 resident since 2011. He has worked in the press department at his alma mater since 2010.
Alex Reynolds is a native of Greenville, Tennessee, and graduated from North Greenville University with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Ministry. His campaign issues include countywide development, road infrastructure, and fully funding law enforcement and first responders.
Greenville County Council District 21
With 100% of precincts reporting, Curt McGahhey won over Chris Harrison 3,003-2,370.
Chris Harrison is the District 21 representative with experience serving on the Greer Planning Commission and the Greenville County Planning Commission. Harrison works in commercial real estate and serves on the County's finance committee. He is chairman of the Planning and Development Committee and the Communication and Government Affairs Committee.
If elected, Curt McGahhey plans to focus on taxes, growth and accountability. He wants to ensure responsible planning and ordinances to foster Greenville's growth. McGahhey is a retired U.S. Marine and runs an aviation service and school.
Greenville County Council, District 22
With 100% of precincts reporting, Frank Farmer leads Jay Rogers, Nia Thomas, and Ethan Jedziniak, 3,070-1,758-953-390.
Farmer and Rogers will face off in a runoff election on June 25.
Frank Farmer is a U.S. Army veteran and Greenville native. His key campaign issues are raising taxes, stabilizing infrastructure, and creating a countywide identity.
Ethan Jedziniak is a Furman University graduate and part of a family law firm that practices personal injury, criminal defense, and more. His campaign focuses on land development, preserving Highway 276, and balancing government spending.
Jay Rogers has practiced private law in Greenville since 1989 and plans to focus on public safety, taxpayer protection and a plan for countywide road infrastructure.
Greenville County Council, District 25
With 100% of precincts reporting, Ennes Fant tallied more votes than Derrick Quarles, Lisa Sweeney and Patrick Prince, 974-713-349-66.
Ennis Fant, the only Democrat up for re-election this year, will head to a run-off against Derrick Quarles on June 25.
Ennes Fant is running a campaign on sustainable transit growth, environmental preservation, infrastructure renewal, and more. Fant, the incumbent for District 25, served in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he worked on planning and development and affordable housing. He graduated from the University of South Carolina.
Derrick Quarles's six-point campaign model focuses on infrastructure, environment and sustainability, affordability, public health and safety, and transit.
The Greenville News reached out to Patrick Prince and Lisa Sweeney; no response has been received yet.
Greenville County District 27
With 100% of precincts reporting, Gaery Collins won over Butch Kirven, 3,011-1,317.
Incumbent Butch Kirven has served five terms as representative for District 27 and served as council chairman between 2005 and 2013 and then again from 2017 to 2020. Kirven is a military veteran, a graduate of Presbyterian College and a Simpsonville native.
Garey Collins' campaign focuses on addressing taxes and population growth. Collins is a Five Forks resident, an Air Force veteran, and has more than 25 years of experience in the human resources field.
This article has been updated to reflect the upcoming run off races on June 25.
– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.Sign up today for a digital subscription.
