Keyserling likely Beaufort's next mayor

With 87 of 89 precincts reporting, Billy Keyserling appears to have won the race to be Beaufort’s next mayor.

“I’m elated, and the hundred people here are elated,” he said of the friends and supporters with him at his home Tuesday night. “The work begins now.”

With more than 96 percent of votes counted and absentee ballots still being tallied, Keyserling had 46 percent with city councilman Mike Sutton at 38 percent.

Sitting Councilwoman Donnie Beer had 11 percent, and Mike Brant had 3 percent.

With those numbers, Sutton was not ready to concede the race.

“It’s been a challenging race, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story yet,” he said. “I’ll be the first one to call Mr. Keyserling, but that time is not now.”

If the numbers don’t change, Keyserling will replace George O’Kelley, mayor pro tempore, who was elected to the council in 2004. He has led the body since former mayor Bill Rauch resigned in July amid charges of insider trading.

Beaufort City Council

An incumbent and a newcomer appear to have secured the two spots up for grabs Tuesday on the Beaufort City Council.

With almost all precincts reporting late Tuesday, real estate broker Mike McFee had 31.7 percent of the vote.

Sitting councilman Gary Fordham had 28.7 percent, a nine-point lead over the next closest competitor, Harley Laing.

Five candidates vied for two at-large council seats.

S.C. House District 124

Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, led in the race to keep her S.C. House of Representatives District 124 seat, but with the race relatively close and many absentee ballots left to count, she wasn’t claiming victory yet.

“There are a lot of absentee ballots contested,” she said. “We won’t get a final count tonight.”

With all but absentee ballots counted, Erickson led Democrat challenger Jim Brown with more than 58 percent of the vote.

Regardless of what happens over the next few days as disputes are settled and absentee ballots are counted, Brown said his run this year was the start of something bigger. “It was fun to lay the groundwork for a Brown to hold House seat 124 in 25 years when my kids run for it,” he said. County Council District 9 Republican Brian Flewelling won the only contested Beaufort County Council seat, toppling Democratic challenger Katherine Hatchett by a large margin. “I’m ready to take office and looking forward to getting to work to represent the constituents of District 9,” Flewelling said Tuesday night from his home, where he awaited election results. Beginning in January, Flewelling will represent residents between the Broad River and Battery Creek, including parts of Shell Point.