SENECA — Political newcomer and pastor W.C. Honeycutt Jr. edged out incumbent Stuart Pohl in Tuesday’s municipal election to earn a seat on Seneca City Council, joining the three incumbents who retained their spots.
The votes still have to be certified by the Oconee County Board of Voter Registration and Elections during a meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday at the county administration offices located at 415 South Pine Street in Walhalla.
Seneca City Councilman-elect W.C. Honeycutt Jr. and Seneca City Councilman Scott Durham laugh with each other outside the Shaver Recreational Complex on Tuesday. Honeycutt Jr. edged out an incumbent in the municipal election, while Durham retained his seat as the top vote-getter. Rex Brown | The Journal
Joy Scharich, executive director of the elections board, said the board has five provisional ballots to consider at that meeting before certifying the results.
Honeycutt Jr. won fourth place with 354 votes and was ahead of councilman Stuart Pohl’s 348 votes by six votes Tuesday night.
When Honeycutt Jr. was told he had a six-vote lead with only five provisional ballots to consider on Thursday, he responded, “Oh wow.”
He said Tuesday night he was grateful to the people of Seneca who voted to entrust him with leadership and serve them in the city.
“I think of myself as a servant leader and that means that even though I am in leadership, I want to serve the people of the community and do all I can to represent them in the best way possible,” he said.
Councilmen Scott Durham and Joel Ward and councilwoman Denise Rozman retained their seats on Tuesday.
Durham was elected to a third four-year term as the top vote-getter with 487 votes, while Ward received 460 votes for second place and Rozman won 394 votes for third ahead of Honeycutt Jr.
Durham said he was “humbled” by the win and was glad the people of Seneca have confidence in him.
“I feel I do what I say I’m going to do,” Durham said. “I keep my word. I don’t go back on my word. I want to work hard for the city, and I have worked hard for the city.”
Durham said he is excited for Honeycutt Jr. as the new member of council.
“People vote for whom they want,” Durham said. “I’m excited to work with him. Whomever the people want, that’s who we work with.”
After securing a fifth term on council, Ward said he was “excited about getting back to work” and honored to be a part of the city.
“I think the experience I brought to council helped a lot,” Ward said. “I think the issues at hand that we’re up against over the next few years will help me make decisions that will make Seneca a place that everyone wants to live.”
Rozman won a second term and said she was “thankful” for every person who voted in the election and “appreciated” the people who voted for her.
“I think they were able to see through some of the negative things that were said about me, and they realized that I did do a good job,” Rozman said. “I think people want to see Seneca progress and be the best it can be. I want to help carry that vision forward.”
Rozman said she was “very sad” that Pohl lost. Rozman said Pohl is a good man and has done good things for the city over the last four years.
“I can’t change the fact that (Pohl) didn’t win, so I welcome Mr. Honeycutt Jr. to the council,” Rozman said.
Pohl said he appreciated the four years the voters gave him to represent the city and enjoyed his tenure.
“To say the least, I’m very disappointed, but it’s up to the voters,” Pohl said. “It’s not up to me.”
Only 713 voters cast ballots out of a total of 5,433 total registered voters a voter turnout of just 13.12 percent — down a little more than 1 percent from 2014.
