There's another twist in the Latta mayoral election that took place back in November and has resulted in a court battle as to who will lead the town.
Robbie Coward told ABC15 Thursday that he intends to withdraw his appeal of the election on the Municipal Election Commission's decision to overturn the election.
Coward won the Latta mayoral election back in November by 83 votes.
According to certified and official results from the Latta Election Commission, Robbie Coward had 275 votes to 192 for Teresa Mason.
Back on Dec. 11, the Latta Election Commission overturned the mayor’s election following a protest hearing at the Latta Community Center.
The commission made the decision following a protest by Mason.
The commission found that Coward is “not domiciled in the Town of Latta Municipal boundaries as required by S.C. 7-5-610 in that he failed to have resided within the municipal limits for at least 30 days prior to the election.”
Coward filed a Notice Of Intent to Appeal the commission’s decision with the court and is waiting on a court date for his case.
At this time, its not clear if or when a new Latta mayor's election will be held.
Coward shared the following statement on social media regarding his appeal for the Latta mayoral election:
"To the citizens in the town of Latta. First I would like to say thanks for the overwhelming support you gave me in the mayor’s election. Due to not being able to get my case heard in a timely manner. I decided to run for county council Dist 6 which is a seat I had previously held. I’m going to withdraw my appeal in the Latta mayor’s election. I want the citizens of Latta to return to the polls and elect them a mayor that can work with all of the town citizens. Latta has a lot of potential to grow. Dist six covers a portion in the town of Latta. I’m going to extend my help to the entire town of Latta. If I can be of any help to the town administraton each knows I’m just a phone call away. And the same goes for every citizen in Latta it don’t matter if your in Dist 6 or not if I can ever be of any help to you or your family please give me a call 8438451944."
Coward won the Democratic primary two weeks ago for Dillon County Council District 6 with 54% of the vote.
The Dillon County Democratic Party voted 7 to 1 last Thursday to overturn the results of the Dillon County Council District 6 primary following a protest hearing, according to the Party's Chairman Rodney McCorkle.
Gerome McLeod is the incumbent and filed the appeal after losing the race to Coward.
McLeod's protest challenged Coward's residency.
He added Coward filed and ran in the wrong district.
A portion of McLeod's protest reads as follows:
“Robbie is in eligible to vote in district 6; however he somehow managed to secure the majority of the votes on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in a district he is not qualified to represent."
The South Carolina Election Commission (SEC) heard McLeod's protest last Saturday in Columbia.
The SEC reversed the decision of the Dillon County Democratic Party to overturn the results of the Dillon County Council District 6 primary election.
The SEC reinstated the results of the race.
Coward will appear on the ballot for the Dillon County Council District 6 race during the general election in November.