SC town’s mayoral race unsettled after 2 candidates each get 242 votes
The three-way mayor’s race in tiny Saluda, South Carolina, is headed to a runoff.
In an unlikely turn of events, the current mayor Amelia Herlong and challenger Miliken Matthews, a town councilman, earned exactly the same number of votes — 242.
“I don’t know when that’s ever happened,” Herlong said.
The third candidate, Wayne Bryan got 126 votes.
Herlong has been mayor since she was elected to serve out the term of Frank Addis Jr., who killed himself in 2003 amid an investigation into his filing expense reports amounting to $48,000 for a year. Before that, the police chief resigned without saying why.
Herlong had a lot to sort through.
Saluda is an hour east of Columbia, a town of about 3,100. Its downtown is a National Historic District. As in most towns, the annual Christmas Parade is a real draw, but Saluda goes one better. The Grinch cycles through the town in the days ahead and then joins the parade.
It’s also the location of the Truck and Tractor Pull, which is described as the hottest pull in the South.
Herlong relishes all her home town has to offer. She taught every grade there is in local schools and is retired now. Ask her anything, but not her age. She politely declines to answer.
Herlong says she believes Saluda is on the rise.
“We’re really starting to grow,” she said.
The town’s streets are being landscaped. A new library and school are in the works. New business such as O’Reilly Auto Parts are coming. The council is working on building a YMCA.
Matthews said he offers a fresh perspective for the community. He has served on the Town Council for four years and wants to increase community involvement and enhance opportunities, especially for young people.
“There’s nothing for them to do out of school,” he said.
He also said he wants to make the historic downtown a place for people to come to slow down and relax.
“We need to embrace that historic side of the community,” he said.
The runoff is scheduled for Nov. 22.
