North Charleston candidates leave the rest up to voters

North Charleston candidates have kissed babies and shaken hands from Accabee to Wescott. Now it's time for voters to do their part.

North Charleston's 34,211 registered voters can go to the polls today to elect a mayor and all 10 members of City Council. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Running for mayor are 13-year incumbent Keith Summey and challenger Hillery Douglas, vice chairman of Charleston County School Board. Whoever wins will get a big raise. City Council voted in 2005 to raise the mayor's salary after the election to $131,412 — a 38 percent increase over the current $95,000 a year.

For council members, the new salary will be $14,088, a 35 percent increase over the current $10,400 a year.

District 1: Incumbent Jesse Dove of Coosaw Creek is being challenged by retired Navy machinist Ed Astle of Forest Hills, document warehouse manager Bill Brown of Whitehall Plantation and regional food sales manager Deon Knecht of Coosaw Creek. The district includes the neighborhoods of Coosaw Creek, Cedar Grove, Forest Hills, Indigo Fields, Wescott and Whitehall.

District 2: Incumbent Rhonda Jerome of Midland Park will face off against Tom Botchie of Colony North and Ted Cozart of Pepperhill. The district includes Colony North, part of Ladson Road, part of Midland Park, Pepperhill and the Northwoods Mall area.

District 3: Incumbent Bobby Jameson of Deer Park is being challenged by mortician Coakley Hilton of Northwoods Estates. The district includes Charleston Southern University, Deer Park, Elms Plantation and Northwoods Estates.

District 4: Incumbent Phoebe Miller of Ashley Villas will face off against former state legislator and ex-North Charleston police chief Mickey Whatley of Evanston Estates. The district includes Ashley Villas, Covington Hills, Evanston Estates, Hunley Park, Jericho, Riverbend, Wando Woods and Whitfield.

District 5: Incumbent Steve Ayer of Glyn Terrace is unopposed. His area includes Bon Aire, Charleston International Airport, Glyn Terrace, Green Grove, High Point, Northpointe, Oakridge Estates and Surprise.

District 6: Incumbent Dorothy Williams of Highland Terrace will go head to head with longshoreman William Wylder of Liberty Park. The district includes Brentwood, Charleston Air Force Base, Highland Terrace, Liberty Park, Russelldale and Waylyn.

District 7: Incumbent Sam Hart of Liberty Hill is being challenged by retired Fed Ex worker Derosher Price, also of Liberty Hill, and barber Edward Greene of Midland Park. The district includes Aichelle Terrace, Ferndale, Forestdale, Iron Dog, Liberty Hill, part of Midland Park, Morningside, Oak Grove, Whipper Barony and Woodhill Place.

District 8: Councilman Bob King of Cameron Terrace is unopposed.

District 9: Councilman Kurt Taylor also is running unopposed.

District 10: Councilwoman Gussie Greene is not seeking re-election. Running for her seat are retired electrical planner Michael A. Brown of Accabee, appliance business owner Chris Collins of Dorchester Terrace, commodities businessman James Johnson of Murray Hill and motel owner Jay Patel of Chicora-Cherokee. The district includes Accabee, most of Chicora-Cherokee, Dorchester Terrace, Howard Heights, Jenkins Terrace, Mappus, Murray Hill, Pettigrew and Union Heights.

The candidate with the most votes wins outright. There are no runoffs. Newly elected members will be seated at the end of July.

Reach Warren Wise at 745-5850 or wwise@postandcourier.com.