A candidate who ran for Dillon County Council says there’s a conflict of interest in the county’s board of elections and that the chairperson should resign.
Shawn Bethea ran for Dillon County Council in last year’s primary election and lost, he says, because people voted in his district that shouldn’t have voted there.
Bethea says he has evidence of that and protested the race and brought it to the Dillon County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. The board’s chairperson, Melissa Thompson, says the board looked into his claims, but turned it over to the democratic party chairperson. The board didn’t take further action because, Thompson says, there was not enough evidence to show it would change the race’s outcome.
Bethea says part of the reason so little was done is because the board has a conflict of interest.
Melissa Thompson chairs the board, but she’s also employed by Dillon County. Her boss is County Administrator Clay Young, who is appointed by Dillon County Council—the same people Thompson oversees during elections.
News13 asked Thompson if her job with the county compromises her role with the board of elections.
“I’ve never had any pressure as far as my job, my role as chairperson,” she says. But when News13 asked if she sees the potential for the appearance of a conflict, she responded, “I do.”
The 2013 Dillon County Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual says “there shall not exist, nor appear to exist, a conflict of interest between private interest and public responsibilities…”
Bethea says that policy makes clear Thompson’s role with the board and employment with the county is a conflict of interest.
“She needs to resign, Bethea says. “It’s not right.”
County Administrator Clay Young told News13 in a statement:
“It appears there is no conflict with the County’s policy due to it being a SC State Appointed Board. I will double check to see if there is a conflict with our policy and get back with you. I have asked the County Attorney to check into this matter…”