Election filing begins Tuesday

General election filing opens next week for a number of Aiken County Council seats, S.C. House of Representatives seats and others to be voted on statewide.

Filing opens Tuesday at noon and will close March 30 at noon.

Candidates for statewide office and solicitor must file with the state executive committee of the candidate's political party choice, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. Candidates for state Senate, state House of Representatives, countywide office and less-than-countywide office must file with the county political party's executive committee in the candidate's county of residence.

Stuart Bedenbaugh, executive director of Aiken County Registration and Elections, said filing fees are $208 for the State House of Representatives and $537.60 for County Council.

"Candidates should contact their local political party offices for information on hours (when to file)," he said.

Dennis Saylor, chairman of the Aiken County Republican Party, said the party's office will likely be open for a few hours starting at noon Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The office is located at 127 Greenville St. N.W. Saylor can be reached at 257-1709 for more information on hours.

Those wishing to file with the Aiken County Democratic Party can do so Tuesday from noon to 4 p.m.; weekdays March 17-29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, March 28, from noon to 4 p.m.; and Tuesday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to noon. Filing will take place at the Everett Chandler Law Firm, 225 Chesterfield St. N.W. Candidates can call 645-7868 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Candidates will fill out an intention-of-candidacy form and a statement-of-economic-interest form.

Many incumbents seek to retain their seats in this election cycle, including County Council members Kathy Rawls with District 1, Scott Singer with District 2, Sandy Haskell with District 5 and Charles Barton with District 6.

If only one candidate files for a particular office with a particular party, that candidate becomes the party's nominee. When more than one candidate files for a particular office with a particular party, the nominee is chosen by primary or convention.

The primaries will be held June 8, and the primary run-offs, if necessary, on June 22. The deadline to register to vote in the primaries is May 8 or Oct. 2 in the general election.

The general election will be held Nov. 2.

The seats that will appear on the general election ballot and the incumbents are listed.

* Governor -- Mark Sanford (R), Sullivan's Island

* Lieutenant governor -- André Bauer (R), Charleston

* Secretary of state -- Mark Hammond (R), Spartanburg

* Attorney general -- Henry McMaster (R), Columbia

* State treasurer -- Converse Chellis (R), Summerville

* Comptroller general -- Richard Eckstrom (R), Columbia

* State superintendent of education -- Jim Rex (D), Winnsboro

* Agriculture commissioner -- Hugh Weathers (R), Bowman

* Adjutant general -- Stan Spears (R), Columbia

* U.S. Senate -- Jim DeMint (R), Greenville

* U.S. Congressional District No. 2 -- Joe Wilson (R), Springdale

* U.S. Congressional District No. 3 -- J. Gresham Barrett (R), Westminster

* House District No. 81 -- Tom Young (R), Aiken

* House District No. 82 -- Bill Clyburn (D), Aiken

* House District No. 83 -- Don Smith (R), North Augusta

* House District No. 84 -- J. Roland Smith (R), Langley

* House District No. 86 -- Jim Stewart (R), Aiken

* House District No. 96 -- Kit Spires (R), Pelion

* County Council District No. 1 -- Kathy Rawls (D), Wagener

* County Council District No. 2 -- Scott Singer (R), Aiken

* County Council District No. 5 -- Sandy Haskell (R), North Augusta

* County Council District No. 6 -- Charles Barton (R), Aiken