Longtime Bamberg County Sheriff Ed Darnell cites health, will not seek re-election

Ed Darnell, who has led Bamberg County law enforcement since his appointment in 1978, announced he will not seek re-election, saying illness and the need for younger leadership motivated his decision. The sheriff's announcement creates a competitive opening for one of the county's most visible elected posts and comes as other long-serving local officials also step aside.

Darnell said, "I decided after having talked with my children and so forth that it’s time for me to go. I’ve been sick now for over a year. So I’m going to turn it over to some younger people." He has repeatedly emphasized a community-first approach to policing, noting, "I think my little motto has always been that everybody don't need to go to jail, but there are some that need to go forever. We're living now in difficult times, and I hope things get better." He also said, "I’ve always enjoyed trying to help people."

Voters eyeing the sheriff's race should note the county filing window for sheriff and probate judge opens at noon Monday, March 16 and closes Monday, March 30. The primary is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9 and the general election for Tuesday, Nov. 3. Those dates set the immediate timetable for candidates and local parties as they consider bids for control of the sheriff's office.

Darnell was appointed after the previous sheriff died in office and went on to win multiple full terms. His tenure is marked by long service, several recognitions and a family law enforcement tradition: both a twin brother and a son followed him into policing, and he served in the South Carolina National Guard for three decades, attaining the rank of platoon sergeant. Local officials honored his career with a unanimous county council resolution at a special meeting on Dec. 30 that approved naming the new sheriff’s headquarters the Ed Darnell Law Enforcement Center and placing an official portrait there. Darnell was appointed in 2012 to the Training Council of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, was named Sheriff of the Year in 2001 and was recognized as Bamberg County Citizen of the Year in November 2019.

The announcement also aligns with another local leadership change: Bamberg County Probate Judge Sarah G. Noel, first elected in 2012, said she is not seeking another term. Noel said, "I have served for two terms. I don't plan to serve for another and that's about it, but I do want to express my appreciation to everyone in Bamberg County who has supported me whole-heartedly. I am indebted to them."

For Bamberg County, the twin departures reshape the near-term landscape for local government and courtroom continuity. The sheriff’s office is a county cornerstone for public safety, budgeting and intergovernmental coordination; new leadership will face staffing, technology and community-policing issues that Darnell cited over his tenure. With filing set to begin March 16, potential candidates, county officials and voters now face a compressed schedule to organize campaigns, review qualifications and consider priorities for public safety in the years ahead.