[UPDATED 11/8/23] Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg is headed to a runoff with former Republican state Rep. William Cogswell Nov. 21 after a six-way race in which Cogswell outpolled Tecklenburg by 1,227 votes out of 30,758.
In unofficial results, Cogswell nabbed 11,151 votes (36.2%) to 9,924 (32.3%) for Tecklenburg, who is running for his third term as mayor. Four other candidates split the remaining third of votes — Clay Middleton with 18%, Peter Shahid with 8%, Mika Gadsden with 3.5% and Debra Gammons with 1.5%.
In other area races, Democratic state Rep. Deon Tedder of North Charleston cruised to victory in a special state Senate race by garnering 82% of votes to newcomer GOP candidate Rosa Kay. In North Charleston, former Police Chief Reggie Burgess convincingly won a 10-way race for mayor to replace outgoing mayor Keith Summey, who backed Burgess.
Also in Charleston, voters overwhelmingly approved a bond referendum with just over 80% voting to borrow $70 million to build parks and improvements across the city. Among the projects: An aquatics and recreation center on Johns Island; a new rec center on James Island and new parks in West Ashley, Daniel Island and the Cainhoy peninsula.
Other Charleston results
In Charleston, six of 12 city council seats also were up for grabs. The four incumbents running for reelection won:
- City council veteran Keith Waring spanked newcomer Owen Vogel by capturing 69% of the vote in District 7 .
- Incumbent Karl Brady squeaked out a win in West Ashley’s District 5 by getting 50.4% of votes in a three-way contest, according to unofficial results.
- Unopposed first-termers Boyd Gregg in District 1 on Daniel Island and Ross Appel in West Ashley’s District 11 also will head back to city council.
In the two open seatsL
- District 3: In the world of every vote counts, Jim McBride (50.03%) may avoid a runoff by one vote. He nabbed 1,481 votes — one more than half of the 2,960 cast in the district. Second-place contender Stephanie Hodges got 45.8% of votes in this newly crafted Johns Island district. The third candidate, Bill Antonucci, got 4.1%. Expect a recount with results clarified on Thursday during certification.
- District 9: In a five-way race, William Tinkler, 39.9%, should face Mike Gastin, 26.6%, in a runoff. Tinkler’s father, Paul, held the West Ashley seat several years ago.
Commissioner of Public Works: Veteran CPW Chairman Thomas Pritchard of James Island trounced challengers by garnering 64% of votes. Other candidates included Jeff Fine (26%) and Blake Spa (9%).
Runoff will be familiar for Tecklenburg
A Nov. 21 runoff election will not be unfamiliar territory for Tecklenburg, a former oil company owner and economic development official for the city of Charleston. In his two earlier mayoral races, Tecklenburg won office in runoff battles after he didn’t get a majority of votes in the general election.
Tuesday’s election, however, was a bit different for the piano-playing mayor. In the other two general elections, he came in first on the first ballot, topping an array of six candidates each in 2015 and 2019.
In 2015, the first time that longtime incumbent Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. did not appear on the ballot in 40 years, Tecklenburg got 8,957 (35.6%) of the general election vote to the 8,685 (34.5%) nabbed by state Rep. Leon Stavrinakis. In a runoff, Tecklenburg won with 57.5% of the 23,561 ballots cast.
Four years later in a second six-way race, Tecklenburg narrowly missed winning outright by capturing 12,556 (47.8%) of votes to city councilman Mike Seekings’ 34.3% share (8,998 votes). In the runoff, Tecklenburg got 61.2% of 20,477 ballots in a convincing win.
This year, stronger-than-expected showings by two other candidates — newcomer Clay Middleton and city councilman Peter Shahid — likely cut into Tecklenburg’s total. While the city’s election is non-partisan, all three have been affiliated with the Democratic Party in the past.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.
