Special Election Held Today For District 17 Seat

The polls open at 7 a.m. today for a special election to replace Tom Corbin in the District 17 seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives.  

The special election, necessitated by Corbin's departure for the State Senate after he won the seat after it was vacated by Phil Shoopman of Greer. 

But if you had been planning on voting at one of several schools in the area, you may want to contact the Greenville County Election Office to find out where you should vote instead, as Elections Director Conway Belangia confirmed that no voting will be held at Heritage Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School, Slater Marietta Elementary School, Armstrong Elementary School or Tigerville Elementary School due to concerns from parents about strangers walking into their children's schools. 

Chris Sullivan, a candidate for the District 17 seat, unsuccessfully ran against Sen. Mike Fair in the Republican primary last summer for the longtime incumbent's seat. 

Sullivan, a public relations and marketing professional, competing against Roy Harmon, a 28-year-old law student from the Greenville area, Tom Kolarik, a 51-year-old chiropractor from Travelers Rest, Mike Burns, a 60-year-old retired businessman from Taylors and 67-year-old Randall Young. 

All five candidates are Republicans. If none of the five gains a majority of the votes next week, a runoff will be held on Feb. 5, with the election scheduled for March 12. 

Polls close at 7 p.m.