Hower wins Republican primary for Beaufort County Council seat

Joshua Hower won the Republican nomination for the Beaufort County Council District 5 seat in Tuesday’s runoff election defeating Mary Jeans Otto by 279 votes, according to the South Carolina Election Commission.

He received around 61% of the vote, compared to Otto’s 39%.

Hower, an Okatie resident, received the most votes in the June 9 primary as well, winning 41% of the vote. Since no candidate in the primary received the necessary 50% of the vote to secure the Republican nomination, the race went to a runoff.

Hower previously told the Island Packet that accountability, government transparency and responsible growth were the issues that fueled his campaign. He was endorsed by incumbent Joseph Passiment, who did not seek reelection.

Hower works as a product owner for a national wholesale insurance brokerage. He will face Democrat Lynn Gerson in the November general election.