Endorsements from Post and Courier in local and state elections in 2024 | editorial

Well, this was impressive: Nearly 1.6 million South Carolinians – more than 45% of registered voters – cast their votes early or by absentee ballot. Now it's time to see what the rest of you can do. Polling stations are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The lines shouldn't be bad. If so, it's because we had unimaginably high voter turnout, and besides, whether your candidates win or lose, waiting is a small price to pay for living in the greatest nation in the world.

Here's a quick summary of The Post and Courier's recommendations. Links to the full recommendations can be found at postandcourier.com/opinion.

• Attorney for the Ninth Circuit: Republican Scarlett Wilson is a person of integrity with a solid track record of impartial prosecutions who has played an important role in helping our state fix problems in the criminal justice system, starting with a record-keeping system that gave too little input to prosecutors, to a judicial selection system that gave too much to a handful of lawyers and lawmakers. She has a record that few prosecutors can match in addressing racial issues in the criminal justice system, and she correctly notes that a lawyer must work with, but also be independent of, the police to provide necessary review; Your opponent says he should be elected because he used to be a police officer.

• SC Senate District 41: Rita Adkins is a top-notch Democratic candidate, but her opponent is outside the mainstream on guns and abortion and, more troubling, has an outspoken approach to politics and life that we don't need in the Legislature; There were too many accusations of illegal hot-headedness to be dismissed as misunderstandings. The only way to steer Republicans away from the extremes of nominating unacceptable candidates is to elect Democrats who are less extreme, as Ms. Adkins appears to be.

• SC Senate District 43: Republican Chip Campsen has a deep and abiding commitment to our natural environment and has the seniority, wisdom and knowledge to translate that into law year after year. A close second is his consistent way of challenging his own party – a practice that has helped his party to a better position in a number of cases – and his willingness to work across the aisle, even when it's not necessary increase public support for important initiatives.

• Charleston County Sheriff: Republican Carl Ritchie's record of leading the Mount Pleasant Police Department to two new Gold Standard accreditations is impressive, as is his recent service on the City Council. He has looked at law enforcement from both the administrative and political funding sides, developing a broader perspective while building relationships with other local public safety leaders who are a critical part of his work. His experience and plans make him the better choice to recruit qualified deputies and fix a troubled prison.

• Charleston County Treasurer: Democrat Mary Tinkler has done a competent job over the past eight years; Her opponent either doesn't understand that this is a purely ministerial position, or she thinks the voters are too stupid to know that. We don't normally support these non-political positions that shouldn't be elected, but we have no choice if a challenger appears unfit for the job.

• Charleston County Council District 3: Democrat Rob Wehrman helped establish the county's new housing trust fund, played an important role in protecting the county's historic African-American settlement communities, and was a sensible voice against the sales tax referendum proposal that would spend an exorbitant amount of money a single controversial project to extend Interstate 526 to Johns and James Islands.

• Charleston County School Board District 2: Carolina Jewett feels a bit like a stock candidate, but her positions are sensible, she supports greater transparency and collaboration, and the incumbent she is challenging was the most problematic member of the school board, earning criticism from the school board for implicit threats against a teacher and for doing nothing to overcome this disqualifying episode.

• Charleston County School Board District 4: Craig Logan is seeking the only open seat against a twice-defeated former school board member. We have greater confidence in Mr. Logan, who has a broad range of experience in grassroots organizing, board leadership and community engagement, including policy advocacy at the state and local levels, and who is committed to getting the public's business done in public , except when state law requires secrecy.

• Charleston County School Board District 6: Daron Calhoun was a voice of reason in a minority caucus that too often poured gasoline on the fire of the majority. He focused on three key messages: Stop conducting the public's business in secret, trust the professionals and don't micromanage.

• Charleston County School Board District 8: Michelle Faust, who has volunteered for a dozen years on school improvement boards, mission critical committees and similar organizations working within schools to improve them, would bring a refreshing change of tone. She's not running to make sure a faction wins, but to make sure the kids win. “I have experience bringing people together,” she says. “It is a skill of listening to the points of view of people who may not agree with yours or with whom you may disagree.” She could have added that it is a skill that not enough people care about.

• Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax. We recommend voting “no” on both questions because the City Council's only priority is building the overpriced I-526 extension, which will not solve our traffic problem and further accelerate development in Johns and James Islands, will harm the environment and further slow down efforts that will actually reduce congestion. And a lot more reasons.

• Statewide constitutional amendment. The question is intended to prevent people who are not U.S. citizens from voting in South Carolina, but that is already banned. We recommend voting “no” to send a message to the Legislature to stop playing games with our Constitution.

Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier.