Jasper County’s sheriff lost the primary. Now his chief deputy wants to be on the ballot
Less than two weeks after Jasper County Sheriff Chris Malphrus lost the Democratic primary for reelection, his second in charge has begun efforts to get on the November ballot.
Malphrus posted on Facebook Monday afternoon a photo of himself shaking chief deputy Gary Morris’ hand with the caption: “I OFFICIALLY ENDORSE Gary Morris AS A PETITION CANDIDATE FOR SHERIFF OF JASPER COUNTY!!”
On June 9, Malphrus — who is finishing his first term as sheriff — and Donald Hipp were the only candidates on the ballot. Hipp, a 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office investigator and former Sheriff’s Office deputy, won the election by 695 votes, 56% of the votes cast.
That primary held Malphrus to a single term and appeared to pave an easy path for Hipp to be the county’s next sheriff because no Republican candidates had filed. Hipp’s name was going to be the only one on the ballot in November.
South Carolina law does not allow candidates who lost in their party primary to be on the general election ballot, but others who did not run may collect signatures for a petition to become an official candidate.
Typically, those petitioning for a nomination must collect signatures from 5% of registered voters in the area they would serve. Jasper County has 20,661 registered voters, according to the S.C. Elections Commission, so Morris would need 1,033 signatures.
The petition with signatures would need to be filed with the Jasper County Board of Elections & Voter Registration by noon on July 15. In addition, petitioners must also file a Statement of Economic Interest with the state Ethics Commission.
“He (Morris) felt like it was important to continue on with the work and accomplishments and progressions we’ve made under my leadership, and he said with my blessing he’d try and run,” Malphrus told The Island Packet on Monday, adding that they’ve discussed “kind of switching positions” if he’s elected.
He said Morris is the best person for the job because he has already “served the people well so far” and could continue building relationships with the community.
Four years ago, Hipp was in the same position. After Malphrus won the Democratic nomination for sheriff in 2016, Hipp successfully petitioned to get his name on the general election ballot. Malphrus won that election 45% to 33%, Bluffton Today previously reported.
Reached by phone Monday afternoon, Morris and Hipp said they could not respond to questions until later in the day.
