Rogers wins CC sheriff’s race, Bullard loses commissioner re-election
Sheriff Bill Rogers
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
Incumbent Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers handily won the Republican nomination in his first election for the office Tuesday, unofficial vote totals showed.
In other local races incumbent District 6 Columbus County Ricky Bullard lost to Jeanne McPherson for the GOP nomination and Jeff Register topped Alonzo McArthur for Democratic nomination for the District 7 commissioner’s seat now held by Republican Scott Floyd.
J.K. Somers was the apparent GOP winner for District Attorney, defeating Jenna Earley, an assistant DA who was endorsed by Jon David, who is not seeking reelection this year.
None of the results are final until county canvasses are held. Those are scheduled across the state on March 13.
Sheriff
With all 16 county precincts reporting Rogers claimed 42.57 percent of the count, 2,258 votes,
Challenger Joshua McPherson took 32.22 percent of the vote in the unofficial count, 1,709; trailed by Ken Elliott with 788 votes, 14.86 percent; and Kevin Norris, 549 votes, 10.35 percent.
Rogers, who was appointed sheriff twice after Jody Greene was removed from office in 2022, said putting God first allowed him to win.
“I put God first, family second, and then my job,” Rogers said Tuesday night. “That’s the way I try to live. Putting Him first, he’s led me to this victory.”
Rogers said he’s worked to make positive changes during the past four years.
“I came in at a time when things weren’t so good in the county,” Rogers said. “I’ve tried to be seen and talk to the people.
“Trying to be fair and impartial to the people in the county, trying to be seen and vigilant on the job helped bring me here.”
Both Elliott and Norris called the campaign clean and voiced support for the winner.
“We ran a clean campaign, we put it out there for the voters to decide,” Elliott said. “Whoever gets it will be a fine sheriff.”
“I congratulate the winner,” Norris said. “It’s over with. I’ll put it behind me and move on.
“It was a good clean campaign.”
Sheriff details
More than 3,000 ballots were cast in Columbus County during the early voting period that ended on Feb. 28. Early voting and election day totals produced the same outcome, though Rogers’ margin of victory was higher in the early voting.
Election day totals were Rogers, 1,245; McPherson, 1,090; Elliott, 475; and Norris, 283.
Early voting totals were Rogers, 1,002; McPherson, 615; Elliott, 209; and Noris, 257.
Rogers won ten precincts, dominating the northern and western precincts. McPherson claimed four precincts in the central and southeastern sections of the county. Norris won in one precinct, his home of South Williams.
Commissioners
With no Democrat in the running for the District 6 Columbus County Commissioners Jeanne McPherson is likely to fill the seat now held by Ricky Bullard next December, following the Nov. 3 general election.
McPherson claimed 665 votes, 53.8 percent of the total, with Bullard taking 522 votes or 42.23 percent. Jody Hinson trailed with 49 votes, 3.96 percent of the total.
In the only local Democratic primary Jeff Register topped Alonzo McArthur for nomination to the District 7 Columbus County Commissioners seat now held by Republican Scott Floyd. Voters will choose between those men in November.
With 134 votes Register claimed 72.04 percent of the total. McArthur’s 52 votes represented 27.96 percent.
District Attorney
Jenna Earley had incumbent Jon David’s support to be the district attorney to succeed him, but J.K. Somers claimed 52.69 percent of the vote to become the top prosecutor for the 15th Prosecutorial District that includes Columbus, Bladen and Columbus counties.
Somers claimed 14,113 votes, Early took 12,670.
Somers’ margin of victory was largest in Bladen County with 63.03 percent of the vote, followed by Brunswick with 51.87 percent.
In Columbus County Somers took 50.43 percent of the vote, winning 2,436 to 2,394.
For more of this week’s news see the latest Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.
