Ed Rumsey

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SENECA — Oconee County Republicans will have four contested races in the June 10 primary after former party chairman Ed Rumsey filed to run for South Carolina House of Representatives District 2 seat.

Rep. Bill Sandifer, R-Seneca, has held the seat since 1995. District 2 covers the greater Seneca area.

Mr. Rumsey’s filing came as a bit of a surprise for Mr. Sandifer, who was unopposed in the last election for the two-year term.

“This will be an opportunity to get even closer to the constituents,” Mr. Sandifer said. “In all my years of working with Mr. Rumsey, he has never indicated any dissatisfaction with my voting and has been very supportive of the delegation’s work in Columbia.”

Mr. Rumsey, 75, served for six years as party chairman.

Current party chairman Eddie Adams said he was looking forward to the candidates discussing the issues.

Mr. Rumsey said he plans to address three major points in his campaign: education, out of control spending in Columbia and the archaic structure of state government.

“It is time to return to the Republican ideals that have made the party and out state great,” Mr. Rumsey said.

Mr. Sandifer, 63, said this election year’s campaign finance reports would be listed online and he looked forward to the primary. The winner of the primary faces no Democratic opposition in November.

“Our ethics officials have said all reports would be filed electronically,” Mr. Sandifer said. “The first ones should be online by the end of next week.”

Oconee Republicans also have a contested race for the County Council District 4 seat. Republican incumbent Marion Lyles is not seeking a third four-year term.

Joel Thrift and Stan Smith will face each other in the primary for the seat. District 4 covers the greater Westminster area. The winner will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Bryan Jenkins and John McDonald, both of Westminster.

In District 5, County Council member Frank Ables will face challenger Reg Dexter, a fellow Republican. In District 2, incumbent Tommy Crumpton will face a challenge from Wayne McCall, also a Republican.

There is no Democratic challenger for the District 2 seat, but Richard Hughes of Fair Play has filed as a Democrat and will face the Republican challenger for the District 5 seat in November. Mr. Hughes has no Democratic primary opposition.

Uncontested races in Oconee County include Republicans Greg Nowell, treasurer; Karl Addis, coroner; Bill Whitmire, House District 1;Thomas Alexander, state Senate District 1; James Singleton, sheriff; Ken Nix, auditor; and Beverly Whitfield, clerk of court.