Attorney David Weeks said today that his client, Gloria Frierson, will appeal a circuit court judge's decision to uphold the results of a special runoff in Manning District 5 that saw her lose a City Council seat by one vote.
Frierson lost 48-47, according to official results provided by the Manning Municipal Election Commission, to Julius Dukes Jr. in the July 22 runoff. A special election held July 8 for the late Gregory Witherspoon's longtime seat saw the pair defeat third-place and fourth-place challengers Sharmane Anderson and Louis Griffith, respectively.
Frierson challenged the runoff results, saying that two men voted who should not have been allowed to vote.
Representing Dukes, attorney Shaun Kent argued no testimony during the protest hearing or a hearing before 3rd Circuit Judge W. Jeffrey Young held Sept. 10 showed that the two men voted.
Talking Friday afternoon, Weeks said he respect's Young's decision, but that he believes a higher court should review what he called "some errors of law."
"I understand that there were some affidavits submitted after the hearing, which I believe is improper," Weeks said. "We have no chance to cross-examine these witnesses at all."
Weeks said he will file paperwork with the S.C. Court of Appeals next week.
An affidavit given to The Manning Times shows Clarendon County Election Commission Director Greg Holladay attesting that the two folks said to have voted did not actually vote. He also said no votes were thrown out or uncounted that should have otherwise changed the outcome of the election.
Manninglive.com will have more on this story throughout the evening.
