Today’s primary run off elections will be a test of developer power in Horry County

Horry County voters have to head back to the polls once more this month to determine control of the county council and the school board.

And, if you’re a Democrat, to determine who will face Sen. Tim Scott in November.

Tuesdays’ run-off election will also be a test of how much influence developers have in Horry County. In the race for Horry County Council Chairman, for example, incumbent Johnny Gardner is running on his record of passing local laws to push back against developer influence. His opponent, former chairman Mark Lazarus, has criticized those rules and has raised substantial money from developers.

Similarly, a Forestbrook-area race for a county council seat has narrowed between Mikey Masciarelli — who criticized “clear cutting” and “over development” in a television ad — against Brandon Skipper, who’s said he supports “smarter planning.”

Here’s what else you need to know:

How you can vote

It’s now too late to register to vote. The deadline was last month, 30 days before the primary election.

Early voting, too, is also closed.

That means you’ll need to visit scVotes.gov to check your registration and find your polling location. When you show up to vote — polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. — you’ll need to bring your voter registration card, or a photo ID if you don’t have your card.

Everyone in Horry County — Democrat or Republican — will have at least one person to vote for during Tuesday’s run-off.

Who you can vote for

If you’re a Republican, your ballot will have at least three races to vote in, and possibly more depending on where you live. If you’re a Democrat, you will only one race to vote in. Here’s the breakdown:

All Republicans:

• Run off between Kathy Maness and Ellen Weaver for State Superintendent of Education

• Run off between Johnny Gardner and Mark Lazarus for Horry County Council Chairman
  
  

• Run off between David E. Cox and Helen Mason Smith for Horry County Board of Education Chairman

All Democrats:

• Run off between Krystle Matthews and Catherine Fleming Bruce for U.S. Senate.

Some Republicans:

• Republicans in the Surfside Beach area will be able to pick Val Guest or Brian Sweeney to fill the District 106 seat in the Statehouse in Columbia. Former state Rep. Russell Fry left that seat open when he ran for Congress.

• Republicans in the Forestbrook area will be able to pick Masciarelli or Skipper for Horry County Council.

Key Horry County races

Perhaps the biggest decision voters will face on Tuesday is in the race for Horry County Council Chairman.

That race, between incumbent chairman Gardner and former chairman Lazarus, is largely a referendum on Gardner’s term in office, with Lazarus arguing that he was the better leader before Gardner ousted him in 2018. Gardner meanwhile has run on a “promises kept” platform.

Gardner, despite a rocky start to his term, has shown a willingness to enact county policy that curtails the influence of developers, including stricter building standards in areas known to flood, impact fees on new construction and changes to the zoning code that restrict developers’ options for building.

Lazarus has criticized Gardner’s implementation of impact fees as well as residents who want to “shut down” development, something he said he would not allow to happen.

Lazarus has also raised substantial funds from high-profile developers in Horry County, some of whom attended his campaign launch earlier this year. Gardner has raised less than Lazarus in the race, and the majority of his sum has come in the form of a personal loan.

Voters will similarly cast ballots for Horry County Council’s open District 8 seat, left vacant by Johnny Vaught who ran for chairman and failed to make the run off.

Vaught has endorsed Skipper to replace him, calling him “honest and earnest.” Skipper has also earned endorsements from the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police and from another candidate in the race who failed to make the run off.

Both men have spoken against Horry County’s rapid growth, though Masciarelli has done so in more forceful terms.

In a television ad, Skipper has said he supports “smart planning” and will not support “special interests” while on council. In his own television ad, Masciarelli has said he opposes “clear cutting” trees and “over development.”

Both men have taken campaign donations from the development firm G3 Engineering. Skipper has also accepted money from the developer A.O. Hardee & Son while Masciarelli has taken money from the home-builder Great Southern Homes.

Skipper, in an email Friday, said he supports impact fees and stricter building standards in flood zones. He stressed the need for additional spending on local infrastructure, but added that tax increases “should be a last resort.”

“I will weigh all decisions before me fairly, but will always put the needs of the people of District 8 and Horry County ahead of any developer, builder, real estate group, or other special interest,” Skipper said about decisions he’d face about development as a council member. “I’m nobody’s man but my own, and will serve the people, not myself.”

Masciarelli, in a statement, said Horry County was “stressed” due to its development and that he would work to match any new building with infrastructure investments.

“I do not feel that many of the current criteria for building is applicable to our current population, traffic count, flooding and water absorption concern and also our overcrowded schools,” Masciarelli said. “All aspects of Horry County are stressed due to the rapid growth. One cannot ignore the extreme development with dangerous and unmanageable roadways.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional comment from Masciarelli.