Six candidates put their names in the hat for the Aiken County council District 5 race last week.
August 15 is the last day to register to vote in the primary. The primary will be held September 15 and the special election will be held on Nov. 3.
The following is information on each candidate.
CANDIDATES
ANDY CHEEK
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican
BACKGROUND: Past Augusta commissioner
RESIDENT OF: Five Notch Road
CAMPAIGNING ON: Savannah River issues, infrastructure improvements and finding ways to promote Aiken, North Augusta and the county's smaller towns, according to recent comments to The Augusta Chronicle.
JUDY HAMILTON
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
BACKGROUND: A social worker and member of the Aiken Public Land Trust, St. Andrews Society of Aiken, ABATE of SC and Palmetto Scottish Country Dancers.
RESIDENT OF: Kershaw Drive
CAMPAIGNING ON: Broadening the county's tax base with new industry and better job opportunities and being an outspoken advocate for District 5 residents in such areas as affordable, accessible health care; programs for senior citizens; and improving education through fiscal and academic accountability.
L.J. "LARRY" MURPHY
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican
BACKGROUND: Aiken County school board member from 2000 to 2008. He also served on the first Aiken County Council in the 1970s, he said.
RESIDENT OF: Clearwater
CAMPAIGNING ON: Keeping the status quo that current Councilman Eddie Butler has established.
BARRY BAGGOTT
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican
BACKGROUND: An 18-year employee of Savannah River Site who serves on the Fairview Early Childhood Center's board of directors.
RESIDENT OF: St. Julian Place
CAMPAIGNING ON: Providing Aiken County residents with necessary county services at current levels while avoiding a tax increase. Also, will support county and city public safety departments and will focus on long-term economic growth in the county.
SANDY HASKELL
PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican
BACKGROUND: Has 36 years of business experience, 29 years in operations management of recycling plants and seven years in business development in the waste management and recycling industry.
RESIDENT OF: Edgefield Road
CAMPAIGNING ON: Continuing a cooperative spirit among council members and pushing for business-friendly tax structure and infrastructure; also wants to help grow the county's job base.
JAMES W. RICHARDSON
PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat
BACKGROUND: Former firefighter with Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department and worker with Aiken County EMS
RESIDENT OF: Palmetto Avenue
CAMPAIGNING ON: Support for public safety departments, to include the sheriff's office, EMS and fire departments.
