Scotland County Voters to Decide Local Leadership, Tax Relief and Water Bond Issue April 7

SCOTLAND COUNTY — Voters across Scotland County will head to the polls Tuesday, April 7, for the General Municipal Election, with a mix of contested races, funding questions and several positions that could be decided by write-in votes.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Boyer Event Center in Memphis, which will serve as the countywide polling location for all precincts.

At the county level, voters will consider a proposed property tax relief measure asking whether to exempt eligible taxpayers from certain increases on their primary residence above the amount paid in the initial credit year.

Another major issue on the ballot involves Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 1. Voters will decide whether to authorize up to $15 million in revenue bonds to fund improvements and expansion of the district’s waterworks system. The bonds would be repaid through system revenues rather than taxes.

In that same district, voters will choose between Eugene Spray and Darin Weiler for a three-year term on the board.

In the City of Memphis, David M. Ahland is the lone candidate for mayor. Two contested alderman races highlight the city ballot, with Lane Campbell facing Steve Hilpert in the East Ward, and Jobe Justice running against George Meier in the West Ward.

The City of Gorin ballot features mostly uncontested races, with no filed candidates for mayor or East Ward alderman, leaving those positions to be filled by write-in votes. Dorothy Kussman is listed for a two-year West Ward alderman term, while Page Ross is seeking a one-year term in the same ward.

In the county’s villages, Arbela has three candidates — Dennis Giberson, Gordon Wiley and Deirdre (Dee) Wiley — seeking three trustee positions. Rutledge also has a full slate of candidates for its three trustee openings, including Barbara Moore, Robert Hoover and Wesley H. Weiler.

Granger, however, lists no candidates for its four trustee positions, meaning those seats will also be decided by write-in votes.

Rutledge voters will additionally decide whether to allow the village to forego elections in years when the number of candidates filing matches the number of available positions.

Absentee voting is already underway at the Scotland County Clerk’s Office and will continue through April 6. The final day to request an absentee ballot by mail is March 25, and the office will be open Saturday, April 4, from 8 a.m. to noon for in-person absentee voting.

Voters needing assistance on Election Day may utilize curbside voting at the polling location.

With a combination of local leadership races, infrastructure investment decisions and policy questions, the April 7 election is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of communities across Scotland County.