History Made: GOP Captures County Council Majority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2008
Contact: Tom Swatzel (843) 222-7456

GEORGETOWN--By winning the special election yesterday for the Georgetown County Council District-5 seat, Republican Austin Beard made history by becoming a part of a first ever Republican majority on the council.

Beard defeated Democrat Murray Vernon and petition candidate Willie Moore for the seat that was vacated by Sel Hemingway, who was hired as county administrator. The term will run through the end of the year.

"Austin is to be congratulated for running an outstanding campaign. His victory shows the continued growing strength of the Georgetown County Republican Party, and again demonstrates that county voters strongly support our conservative party platform versus the liberal tax and spend ways of the Democrats," said Georgetown County Republican Party Chairman Tom Swatzel.

Beard also overwhelming defeated Willie Moore in the Republican Primary. He will face Vernon again in the November general election for the four year council term.

Beard will join Republicans Ron Charlton, Jerry Oakley and Glen O'Connell on the council.

Republicans never even had a seat on the Georgetown County Council until 1994 when Swatzel also made history by becoming the first Republican elected to the council.

Election Results:
Special Election- Austin Beard 49.45%, Murray Vernon 37.91%, Willie Moore 12.64%
Republican Primary- Austin Beard 74.56%, Willie Moore 25.44%