Scharich played it straight throughout

Words such as fair, efficient, and honorable were tossed about yesterday in a ceremony to fete Joy Scharich on her retirement as the director of Oconee Registration and Elections.  Two of the county’s three state lawmakers were there in person to lead a ceremony to congratulate Scharich ahead of her June 28 retirement date.  She’ll be succeeded by Christi Burr, a Charleston County election worker.   Scharich was presented resolutions and  a pair of U-S flags, one the gift of U-S Rep. Jeff Duncan; the other, from State Senator Thomas Alexander.  She appeared to be touched by it all, especially the words of State Representative Bill Whitmire.  He said no matter whether you were a Democrat, a Republican, or an Independent, you could count on fair treatment from Scharich and her office.  In recent years, as technology developed to tally votes, the Oconee office gained the reputation of being first or near first in reporting election night results to state headquarters.