Columbus, Saluda have council races; no challengers in Tryon 

POLK COUNTY—Filing for Polk County’s municipal election ended Friday and there will be races for council seats in Columbus and Saluda, but no challengers filed to run for Tryon Mayor or council. 

Columbus will have the biggest race for council, with three open seats and six people filing. Current Columbus Mayor Eric McIntyre did not file for re-election, with Patrick McCool filing and running unopposed. 

Saluda will also have a race for two open council seats. Saluda had three people file for the seats. 

Tryon will not have a race for either mayor or two open council seats. The incumbents were the only ones to file. 

Polk County Board of Elections Director Cliff Marr said that many races are uncontested, but all contests will have a write-in slot by law. 

“As long as the person written in is a registered voter in the jurisdiction, the vote will count,” Marr said. “This is different from county and state (races) where you must be a qualified candidate by petition.” 

In Columbus, along with McCool filing for mayor, incumbent council members Richard Hall, Margaret Metcalf and Mark Phillips also filed. Ernie Kan, Brent Jackson and Steve E. Christopher filed to challenge the incumbents for three open council seats. 

In Tryon, incumbent mayor Alan Peoples filed to retain his seat along with incumbent commissioners Cry Armbrust and Chrelle Booker filing to retain their seats. No challengers filed. 

In Saluda, incumbent commissioners Stanley Walker and Leon Morgan both filed to retain their seats, along with challenger Robert “Bob” Ross. 

Filing for this year’s municipal election began on July 5 and ended Friday at noon. Filing for the Landrum election ends on Aug. 9. 

The 2019 election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. There are no primaries for municipal elections and candidates run non-partisan. 

Saluda will elect commissioners and have a special referendum this year regarding alcohol sales. The referendum will ask Saluda voters if they are for or against permitting the sale of mixed beverages in hotels, restaurants, private clubs, community theatres and convention centers.