Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

POLK COUNTY—By 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday, the Polk County Board of Elections posted its unofficial 2024 general election results from the county’s seven precincts.

Polk County Board of Commissioners will remain in Republican control. Myron Yoder, incumbent board chairman, was the highest vote-getter with 6,280 votes. Newcomer Jennifer Hargett will join the board with 5,959 votes. Paul (Little) Beiler, also an incumbent, will remain on the board with 5,944 votes.

In the Polk County Board of Education election, Rick Stich (R) will replace Rob Parsons (D) from the Saluda Township. Rick Covil (D) ran unopposed from Tryon Township and garnered 8,073 votes. Lucinda (Cindy) Allen (Unaffiliated) prevailed over Syd Mutschler (D) for the White Oak Township with 6,204 votes.

Sheila Whitmire (R) ran unopposed for Polk County Register of Deeds. She garnered 9,563 votes.

Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Randy Smith ran unopposed for that position. He received 8,618 votes. There were 138 write-ins. 

In Columbus, Mayor Patrick McCool ran unopposed for another term. He received 434 votes, including 12 write-ins. The top three vote-getters for the Columbus Town Council were Brent Jackson (290 votes), Mark Phillips (282 votes), and Richard Hall (279 votes).

Melanie Talbot (260 votes) and Kevin Burnett (238 votes) were the top two vote-getters in the race for commissioner of the City of Saluda.

Tryon Mayor J. Alan Peoples will serve another term, having received 432 votes, or 44.22 percent of the votes cast.

Skip Crowe, Tracie Greenway Morris, and Julie Lambakis have been elected to serve as commissioners for the Town of Tryon.