7 candidates vying for 3 open seats in James Island PSD

With just two of 23 precincts counted by late Tuesday, the race for three seats on the James Island Public Service District Commission remained wide open.

Seven candidates, including three incumbents, waited to see who will hold the seats. Commissioners Eugene Platt, with 19 percent; and June Waring, with 17 percent, led in the early, unofficial returns. Narrowly holding third was challenger Eugene Woodall, with 13 percent.

Behind Woodall by just three votes, and also at 13 percent, was incumbent Commissioner Charles Rhodes.

Sandi Engelman was at 12 percent; Shirley Rush had 11 percent; and James A. Milligan, 8 percent.

Nancy Griffith, who withdrew from the race, managed to garner 7 percent of early returns.

Waring said late Tuesday returned seem to indicate a tight race unfolding for the third spot on the commission. She said that it might be awhile before all the votes are counted.

"There are a lot of absentees (votes). They'll be counting those a long time," she predicted.

Platt was buoyed by early returns. "It's a safe bet that I'll be at least in the top three," he predicted. He added that if he holds his seat he will be the area's only Green Party office holder.

Platt said he left the Democratic Party earlier this year and believes the Greens have a bright future in the Palmetto State.

Rush said she watched television for election returns as long as she could on Tuesday, but saw only figures for the PSD race that stayed frozen at 4 percent of the vote.

"I just gave up the ghost and said, 'shoot, I'm tired,' and went to bed," she said.

The James Island district serves about 22,000 residents and provides fire protection, wastewater and solid-waste-collection services, street signs and lighting. The commission consists of seven elected officials who serve four-year terms.

The seven candidates cited issues including holding down property taxes while meeting growing operating costs. Incoming commissioners will have to deal with matters that include proposed new spending for fire department equipment and training.