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Saluda has highest turnout with 41.62 percent

POLK COUNTY—Polk County’s towns saw an overall 16.45 percent voter turnout for last week’s municipal election, with the City of Saluda seeing a far higher turnout than the towns of Columbus and Tryon. 

Saluda, which had the only race in all 3 towns, had a 41.62 percent turnout, according to the Polk County Board of Elections prior to the official canvass. There were still 6 provisional votes in Saluda to be added this week. 

Columbus had an overall 14.53 percent turnout, with Columbus 1 having a 10.82 percent turnout and Columbus 2 having a 19.09 percent turnout. 

Tryon had the lowest turnout of 7.44 percent. 

This year’s municipal election was mostly incumbents running unchallenged. 

The race in Saluda was between challenger Tangie Morgan and incumbent mayor Fred Baisden. Morgan won the election with 145 votes to Baisden’s 89 votes. 

Incumbent Saluda Commissioner Paul Marion received the most votes of anyone in the county at 148 votes. He retained his seat unchallenged, as well as incumbent Mark Oxtoby in Saluda. Oxtoby received 113 votes. 

In Columbus, political newcomer Becky Kennedy was high vote getter for town council with 83 votes compared to incumbents Richard Hall and Mark Phillips retaining their seats with 61 votes and 42 votes respectively. 

Columbus Mayor Patrick McCool retained his seat with 86 votes, which was the most votes of any candidate in Columbus. 

Tryon only had incumbents file this year for mayor and council. Incumbent mayor Alan Peoples retained his seat with 88 votes. 

Incumbent Tryon commissioners Bill Ingham and Bill Crowell retained their seats with 94 and 89 votes respectively. Ingham was the high vote getter in Tryon and received the most votes of the Tryon candidates. 

 

Voter turnout

 

Precinct Voter registration Votes Turnout %

Columbus 1 379 41 10.82

Columbus 2 309 59 19.09

Total Columbus 688 100 14.53

Saluda 567 236 41.62

Tryon 1438 107 7.44

Totals 2693 443 16.45