Cadd looks forward to changes after winning GOP primary race for Beaufort County auditor

Political newcomers David Cadd and Willie Turral faced each other Tuesday in the Republican primary for Beaufort County auditor, with Cadd coming out on top.

With 99% of the precincts counted, Cadd received 67% of the votes with a total of 13,996 votes compared with Turral’s 33% and 6,835 votes.

As no Democratic candidate filed for the office, Cadd will likely be the next auditor, although someone could still file as a write-in candidate in the November general election.

“Thank you to the citizens of Beaufort County for their support and trust,” Cadd said Wednesday. “I will do exactly what I told them.”

Cadd said he intends to enforce the roles and responsibilities of the auditor’s office and make sure that mandates, like the one keeping the auditor’s office an elected position, are met.

Embattled auditor Jim Beckert, who faced many controversies during his tenure, did not seek reelection.

Beckert faced lawsuits from two female officeholders accusing him of stalking, harassment and abusive behavior, and one from his own county government for “failure and refusal” to perform his duties as an elected official. Those lawsuits are pending.

“Beckert has repeatedly sought to usurp the powers of other officials and officers and to avoid fulfilling his legal obligations when they are at odds with his own personal wishes,” the suit read.

Cadd had not run for political office before but worked as deputy auditor under Beckert, until he was fired in February 2021.

“Long term is to get the trust and confidence back up, so that people are proud of that office,” said Cadd.

Turral is a Realtor and director of a nonprofit director who holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and is working toward a law degree from Charleston School of Law. He was a write-in candidate for the Beaufort County Council in 2018.

“Naturally, I am disappointed with the results of the election,” Turral said Wednesday. “I’m thankful to all my supporters. I have learned a lot from this experience and will continue to focus on improving the lives of others in Beaufort County.”

Cadd holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in business management and human resource management.

Cadd said the deputy auditor’s position shaped his understanding of the integral parts of Beaufort County.

Cadd said he believes that issues that had existed in the auditor’s office will resolve themselves due to a change in staff and changes in how he runs the office.

“I’ve got a clear conscience,” Cadd said. “I have no issues with anything that I’ve done.”

This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 3:07 PM.