Haskell sworn in as county council member
Aiken County native Sandy Haskell, who won the county council District 5 seat by a landslide in the Nov. 3 race, was sworn in as a county council member Tuesday.
Haskell won the race to fill the District 5 seat once held by Eddie Butler.
He garnered 76 percent of the 870 votes, defeating Democrat Judy Hamilton, who took 22 percent.
Haskell said he and his opponent worked hard throughout the campaign.
"I'm just pleased with the results and all the support," he said. "I've got an awful lot to learn in a very short period of time."
Hamilton said she was disappointed by the results and the turnout, with just 7 percent of voters taking part in Tuesday's special election.
"I expected a lot more people to turn out," she said after viewing the results.
About 5 percent of voters turned out for the primary in September for the special election to fill the seat vacated by Eddie Butler, who resigned because he was leaving his district, said Stuart Bedenbaugh, the executive director of Aiken County Registration and Elections.
"It's the turnout we expected, but it is subpar for a special election," he said.
Everitt gets contract extension
The Aiken County School Board unanimously approved a two-year contract extension for Superintendent Beth Everitt.
The board met Nov. 3 to discuss her 2008-09 evaluation. Everitt is two years into a three-year contract she received when she joined the district in 2008 from Albuquerque Public Schools.
Board Chairwoman Christine Harkins said in a statement that Everitt's strong leadership made "extraordinary efforts" in improving student achievement, increasing graduation rates and improving financial management,
Everitt said the contract extension was granted at her current salary, which was last reported as $166,000 for 2008-09. Her contract now runs through June 30, 2013.
