AWENDAW -- While Awendaw voters booted an incumbent mayor, they appeared to back most of his unofficial slate of candidates, according to unofficial results Tuesday.

Voters picked a new leader, mayoral candidate Samuel N. Robinson, who ran with candidates who wanted to limit growth, but re-elected longtime incumbents running on an unofficial slate with Mayor William H. Alston, who said growth is necessary.

Covering the politics of the Lowcountry, South Carolina and the Nation.

Bryan McNeal Jr., 47, a funeral home director, and Miriam Green, 58, a Berkeley Electric Cooperative community services vice president, kept their seats with 22.6 percent and 20.2 percent of ballots cast, respectively. One newcomer, Betty Simmons, an online boutique owner, took the third four-year seat with 20.7 percent of the vote. Newcomer Albertha S. Singleton, 61, a retired child care worker and educator, was on Alston's slate but lost with 17.6 percent of the vote. Isaiah Simmons, 64, a retired machinist, took 18.9 percent of the vote.

Newcomer Sheila M. Powell, 49, South Santee Senior & Community Center executive director, also on Alston's slate, took 51 percent of the vote in a race against James Bubba Godwin, 67, a former Wando resident, who got almost 49 percent of the vote for one two-year council seat.

Both Betty and Isaiah Simmons and Godwin ran on an unofficial slate with Mayoral candidate Robinson.

Almost two-thirds of Awendaw's voters decided against converting four of the town council's six at-large seats to single-member districts, according to unofficial results.

Copyright © 1995 - 2009 Evening Post Publishing Co.