White wins decisive Allendale County Council District 2 primary

A 99-vote margin all but locked up one of Allendale County’s most practical offices, giving James White, Jr. a decisive win in County Council District 2. The results, finalized June 16, gave White 150 votes, or 74.63 percent, to Richard Dean Allen’s 51, and White said he was grateful for the confidence voters placed in him while crediting supporters, family and faith for keeping him focused through the campaign.

For Allendale residents, the result matters less as a partisan scorecard than as a decision about who will help steer county road work, budgeting and basic service delivery. Because no Republican filed for the seat, White is expected to keep the council post after the November general election. The county’s current roster lists White in District 2 alongside John Chaney in District 1, Willa Jennings in District 3, Matthew Connelly in District 4 and William Robinson in District 5, leaving White’s seat firmly embedded in the council’s day-to-day governing structure.

White had tied his re-election bid to local concerns that have shaped life in Allendale for years. In a June 2 candidate questionnaire, he said he wanted another term because of his love for the county and his desire to build on the momentum of his first term. He pointed to population decline, long commutes for work and rising poverty after the loss of textile and other industries, while also citing Hampton Industries and other incoming employers as part of the county’s economic future.

The District 2 result was also part of a broader regional ballot that will keep Allendale tied to the fall race for House District 91, which covers Allendale, Barnwell and Orangeburg counties. Barnwell resident Daniel Alexander won the Republican nomination there and will face incumbent Democratic Rep. Lonnie Hosey in November, a contest that could shape how much attention rural counties get in Columbia on education funding, infrastructure and other state priorities. That race came in a year when more than 318,600 early ballots were cast statewide before the June 9 primary, underscoring how much was at stake well beyond one county line.

White’s win gave him a clear mandate to keep pressing county issues that land closest to home. For District 2, it leaves a familiar hand in place at the council table when the next budget, road list and service issue comes up.