March 31, 2016

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IN RELIGION: AP takes a closer look at Christians, Muslims in Pakistan A4 THE CLARENDON SUN

Learn about 9th annual Puddin Swamp Festival A6 THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

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Candidates for primary election set Largely Democratic field features incumbents as well new faces BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com With Wednesday’s noon deadline for filing for public office, local and statewide races became more clear

Wednesday afternoon. The retirement of Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville, the longest serving member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, has prompted a number of candidates for the Dis-

trict 50 seat the veteran representative will leave open. The district includes all of Lee County and portions of Kershaw and Sumter counties. Those seeking to fill the seat include: Tom Drayton, Demione Kinney, and Will Wheeler, all of Bishopville; Rembert area residents Brian Alston and Crystal Cunningham as well as Keith Johnson of Lamar. All are Democrats. The District 64 House seat held by

incumbent Dr. Robert Ridgeway will be contested in the Democratic primary by Mitch Ellerby and Alexander Herc Conyers. All three candidates live in Manning. Barring any candidates running by petition, David Weeks, D-Sumter, will run unopposed for re-election in state House District 51 in Sumter County, as will Republican Rep. Murrell Smith in

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Lt. Glover exemplifies the fire service motto 8-year veteran in running for state firefighter of the year title BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com The courage to lead is just one of a few reasons Lt. Will Glover, an almost-eight-year veteran of Sumter Fire Department, was named American Legion Law and Order Awards’ 2015 Firefighter of the Year. Glover is family-oriented, down-to-earth and loves his profession, said Sumter Fire Chief Karl Ford. “He knows his craft well,” he said. “We’re very proud to have him.” Ford said Glover is also in the running to receive the South Carolina Firefighter of the Year Award. Glover, 28, has spent a great part of his life in fire departments. When he was a child, he would go to Camden Fire Department with his father. He joined the explorer program with his hometown fire department at 14 and became a volunteer firefighter when he turned 18. He later started his career with Sumter Fire Department

KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM

Lt. Will Glover sits on the front of the truck he worked on. Glover is now a training officer and the American Legion Law and Order Awards’ SEE FIREFIGHTER, PAGE A10 2015 Firefighter of the Year.

Shiloh resident announces Roland says he’ll run for District 1 seat again candidacy for District 5 BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Former Sumter County Councilman Roland Robinson announced Tuesday he is running for Sumter County Council District 1, his former council position. Rembert native Naomi Sanders, who holds the seat now, did not file to run for re-election. Robinson, a lifelong resident of the county, served as District 1 councilman from 2004 to 2008. If re-elected, Robinson said he would have an easy transition into the position. “I already have the experience of working with council,” he said. During his time as a county councilman, Robinson was in support of the 2008 Capital Penny Sales Tax and had a hand in pushing road resur-

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facing and paving projects throughout the county. Robinson said his primary focus is to look into more opportunities at University of South ROBINSON Carolina Sumter and Central Carolina Technical College to get young people workforce ready. He also plans to bring more focus and funds to county road repair. Robinson owns R & G Insurance on Patriot Parkway. He is also a long-term substitute teacher with Sumter School District and will be a serving at Bates Middle School until the end of the this school year. “I hope people look at my experience and see that I’m eligible to continue what I started in 2004,” Robinson said.

BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Geraldine Gamble, a resident of the Shiloh community for more than 20 years, announced Tuesday that she is running for Sumter County Council District 5. As a candidate, Gamble thinks she can boost the county’s infrastructure through negotiating the important needs, concerns, ideas and wants within the different communities. Gamble said her primary focus is road repair throughout the county. Once the paved roads have been fixed and potholes have been filled, dirt roads should be next, she said. Her other focuses include health care, education and water and sewage improvements. Moreover, Gamble has great confidence in her ability to delegate jobs to the most qualified in-

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dividuals and intends to train others to work at the same capacity. “Everyone will benefit one way or the other,” Gamble said in a news release. GAMBLE Gamble’s career experience includes customer service, administration, accounting and education. Her previous titles include community coordinator, secretary, steward and missionary. Gamble works in public relations, using her bachelor of arts degrees in political science, teacher education training, computer programming and operation training. The Shiloh resident encourages those who go to the polls on June 14 to “vote Geraldine Gamble, the gogetter for Sumter County Council District 5.”

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