There will be some almost unprecedented factors in Greenville's municipal balloting Tuesday, but candidates and election officials are concerned that one thing will not change, more than eighty-percent of the voters are not likely to show up at the polls.
Mayor Knox White is facing a challenge from a Democrat candidate for the first time in sixteen years. Together, he and former City Councilwoman Michelle Shain have raised more than 420-thousand dollars in campaign cash.
He has spent a lot more than Shain campaigning for his eighth and, he says, last term as mayor. White handily defeated businessman and Furman instructor Joe Farmer in the July GOP primary. Just over 3500 people voted, less than six percent of more than 45-thousand registered voters in the city limits.
Both candidates says they're hearing form a lot of people, White told the Post & Courier his office has gotten a record number of requests for yard signs. County elections supervisor Conway Belangia says fifteen percent would be considered a good turnout for a mayoral election.
Greenville City Councilwoman Dorothy Dowe is challenged by Republican Randall Fowler for the at-large seat. Councilmembers Ken Gibson and John DeWorken are running unopposed.
