Union County supports Sunday liquor sales, fires clerk | Spartanburg politics

Union County will soon allow beer and wine sales on Sundays after voters approved the change.

In South Carolina, alcohol sales laws vary by county. Some counties allow such sales on Sundays, including Spartanburg and Greenville counties. Union County previously did not allow the sale of beer or wine on Sunday.

On Nov. 5, Union County voters approved a referendum allowing the South Carolina Department of Revenue to issue temporary permits for the possession, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages to nonprofit organizations and businesses regardless of the day of the week.

24-hour permits can only be issued to licensed businesses that are authorized to sell goods on-site. Under the referendum, permits could also be issued for the sale of beer and wine in permitted outdoor locations regardless of the day of the week.

Union County voters also ousted two-term Clerk of Courts Melanie Lawson, a Democrat, instead electing her Republican opponent Stephanie Candler Kitchens by a more than 4-point margin. The other county official on the ballot, Sheriff Jeff Bailey, also a Democrat, won unopposed.

Several local races have been decided in Cherokee County.

Voters elected Democrat Teresa Bonner to the Cherokee County Council, representing District 1. She won her primary battle against Lyman Dawkins Jr. in June and advanced to the general election unopposed. Donnie Hardin, Tim Spencer and David Smith were also elected to the Cherokee County Council.

Voter turnout was higher than usual in both districts. Voter turnout in Union County was 77 percent, and in Cherokee County turnout was 74 percent.

Here are the 2024 general election voting results for Cherokee and Union counties.

Cherokee County

State Senate District 14

• Republican Harvey Peeler, incumbent – 20,534
• Total entered – 163

State House of Representatives, District 29

• Republican Dennis Moss, incumbent – 8,102
• Total entered – 70

State House District 30

• Republican Brian Lawson, incumbent – 11,329
• Democrat Isante McDowell – 3,077
• Total entered – 13

Bar District 7

• Republican Barry Barnett, incumbent – 20,149
• Total entered – 125

County Council, Ward 1

• Democrat Teresa Bonner – 1993
• Total entered – 174

County Council, Ward 3

• Republican Donnie Hardin – 3,237
• Total entered – 79

County Council, Ward 4

• Republican Tim Spencer, incumbent – 2,133
• Total entered – 33

County Council, Ward 6

• Republican David Smith, incumbent – 2,798
• Total entered – 16

District Commission on Soils and Waters

• Jane Waters, incumbent – 12,587
• Total entered – 130

Thicketty Creek Watershed Preserve (three locations)

• Earby Cash, current operator – 3100
• Robert Perrin, incumbent – 2641
• Joey Shetley, incumbent – 2363
• Total entered – 52