A 26-year-old has taken the Republican nomination in the election for a new coroner.

Michael Thomas narrowly defeated long-time fireman John Pollard 346-272, a 14-percent victory.

The race was close in many of the boxes with Pollard taking his home box of Silverstreet by a 23-9 margin and the Stoney Hill and St. Phillips/Jolly Street boxes.

Thomas' home boxes of Whitmire City and Whitmire Outside gave him the votes he needed to win. Thomas received 144 votes in the two boxes, while Pollard only garnered one vote combined in both of them.

Only three percent of the county's 19,231 voters went to the polls yesterday.

In the Newberry Ward 4 box, which covers the West End area of Newberry, no one voted.

Pollard said the two-week campaign period for the special election did not give candidates much time to prepare for the election, and with three elections in the past four weeks, many are tired of voting.

“I am proud of the number of people who got out and voted. This was a clean campaign and I want to congratulate Michael,“ said Pollard.

“I appreciate Newberry County showing up on the short notice and during a holiday week to vote for me,“ said Thomas.

Thomas will now face retired Highway Patrol Trooper Craig Newton.

The special election is being held as a result of the death of Chief Deputy Coroner Tommy Hedgepath. Hedgepath was the lone candidate for the election, but passed away before the primary election. The Attorney General's office ruled that both parties could open their books for the vacant seat.

Current long-time Coroner James Smith decided that he would not seek re-election.

In addition to running for coroner in November, Thomas said he would also run for re-election on the Whitmire Town Council. The filing for the race starts next week, and the election will be held during the general election. This will mean that Thomas will be running on two ballots on the same day.

This is legal by law, but if he were to win the coroner seat, he would have to give up the Town Council position. According to law, a person can not hold a dual office or two elected positions at one time.