Election filing begins today

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

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

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.

Filing fees are $208 for the S.C. House of Representatives and $537.60 for County Council.

Aiken County Republican Party Chairman Dennis Saylor said Bill Taylor, who seeks the District 86 seat held by incumbent Rep. Jim Stewart, has already confirmed he will be at the party office at noon to file.

Other incumbents have confirmed their intentions to file as well, Saylor said.

"I know most incumbents like to make the message known they're running again so they file early," he added.

The party's office will open at noon today and also on Thursday and Friday for a few hours. The office is located at 127 Greenville St. N.W. Saylor can be reached at 257-1709 for more information on hours or to schedule an appointment.

Those wishing to file with the Aiken County Democratic Party can do so today from noon to 4 p.m.; weekdays from 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.

A representative with the County Democratic Party said, as of press time, no appointments had been made.

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.

The primaries will be held June 8, and the primary runoffs, if necessary, will be on June 22.

The deadline to register to vote in the primaries is May 8 and 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 -- Andre 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