Former North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess is set to become the city’s first Black mayor after sweeping a crowded 10-way field in the North Charleston mayoral election Nov. 7. Burgess secured nearly 60% of the vote, making him the first new mayor in nearly 30 years.
“Thank y’all. I’m your homeboy,” Burgess said at an election night watch party. “You proved to me that you love me, now is my time to continue to prove to you all that I love y’all and continue to do right by all North Charleston citizens.”
Meanwhile in Charleston, Mayor John Tecklenburg is headed to a Nov. 17 runoff with former GOP state Rep. William Cogswell, who outpolled the mayor by 1,400 votes out of more than 30,000 cast in a six-way race.
North Charleston’s historic election has been watched closely all year, as nearly a dozen candidates entered the race with no runoffs, but Burgess received 8,365 votes by the end of the night, nearly quadrupling runner-up Todd Olds’ 2,235 votes.
North Charleston also saw a packed-to-the-gills council election, with 34 candidates vying for all 10 seats.
Three different candidates all named Michael Brown won three different council elections in Districts 1, 7 and 10.
Incumbent Rhonda Jameson Jerome received 53% of the vote in District 2; Sandino Moses won District 3 with about 27% of the vote; incumbent Jerome Heyward won District 5; Nefertiti Brown won 47% of the vote in District 6; and incumbent Kenny Skipper won without opposition.
The District 4 race was separated by six votes, with Charmaine Palmer Roberts taking 25.69% (408 votes) and Richard Hayes getting 25.31% (402 votes), leading to a surefire recount.
Similarly, in a five-way race for District 8, Brandon Hudson and Greg Perry each captured about 32% of the vote. They were separated by 15 votes with Hudson leading. Results were unofficial until certification, which was expected Nov. 9.
City of Charleston races
The Charleston mayoral runoff — Tecklenburg’s third runoff race in three elections for mayor — is set for Nov. 21.
Tecklenburg secured 9,924 votes, about 32% by the end of the night, while Cogswell received 11,151, or about 36%. Newcomer Clay Middleton got 5,643 votes, about 18%, putting him squarely in third place. He conceded the race Nov. 8. Many of his voters are likely to throw their votes to Tecklenburg in the runoff.
“I am humbled and honored to have the support, time and dedication from my volunteers, loved ones, supporters, staff, friends, family, donors and community members,” Middleton said in a statement. “This is the beginning of a new chapter in my relationship with the city of Charleston and one that will continue to prosper.”
In Charleston, six of 12 city council seats also were up for grabs. Incumbents Keith Waring (District 7) and Karl Brady (District 5) survived challenges. Incumbents Boyd Gregg (District 1) and Ross Appel (District 11) were unopposed.
In District 3, Jim McBride was up by one vote above 50%, which if certified would allow him to avoid a runoff against Stephanie Hodges, who got 1,481 votes, or about 46%. Meanwhile, William Tinkler will square off with Mike Gastin in a runoff for District 9 after they received about 40% and 26% of the votes, respectively.
Andy Brack contributed to this story.
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