Handful of South Carolina seek county sheriff jobs

A handful of South Carolina women, including an Oconeean, are hoping the voters will nominate them next month to hold an office, rarely occupied by members of their gender. It’s believed that no woman has ever been elected to the office of county sheriff in South Carolina, although some women have temporarily occupied the office. The executive director of the South Carolina Sheriffs Association, Jarrod Bruder, says, “It used to be the custom and practice that if a sheriff actually died in office or for whatever reason was unable to complete the term, the governor would appoint the sheriff’s wife to serve as the successor for the remainder of the term.” The statewide sheriff’s association dates back to 1913. According to Bruder, in this election year there are “maybe four or five” women running this year to be sheriffs in 39 of the 46 counties. That number includes Oconeean Amanda Tinsley, who is challenging her employer, the two-term Sheriff Mike Crenshaw, for the Republican nomination in the June 9 primary. The winner will face no Democratic or third party ballot candidate in the November election. Throughout the years in South Carolina, whenever there are races for county sheriff and president, the electorate gets motivated and turns out in large numbers. This time, however, remains to be seen if COVID-19 will make for a light vote—even though county and state election officials are encouraging voters to apply to vote by absentee ballots.