Lawmakers once again approve revising the way school board elections are held
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

A plan to revise the Cherokee County School Board election format has once again been passed by local lawmakers.

The state Senate gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that requires Cherokee County school board elections to be held the second

House week in August. A runoff would be held in any race where a candidate does not receive a 50 percent-plusone majority of votes.

State Rep. Dennis Moss reintroduced the school election bill June 7.

Moss said he does not expect any problems in the school election changes becoming law.

"This is a clean bill affecting only the Board of Trustees of Cherokee County School District 1," Moss said.

An earlier bill was vetoed by Gov. Mark Sanford when it was changed by State Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney) to include new election dates and a runoff for Board of Public Works Commissioners.

In his veto message, Sanford ruled the BPW election changes made the election bill unconstitutional. The governor cited State Constitution rules that prohibit making laws for a specific city as his basis for the veto.

Sanford will now decide whether to sign the Cherokee County school election bill into law. If approved by the governor, the U.S. Department of Justice would still need to approve the changes.