Greenville County election results: Winners announced

Greenville County election results are in, with high voter turnout and several uncontested races, including mayors and city council members.

David Ferrara, a recent graduate of Clemson University, is a reporter for The Post and Courier Greenville, where he covers public safety, courts, and breaking news in Upstate S.C. Ferrara recently reported on the results of the six races in Greenville County, including two contested mayoral elections in Greenville and Simpsonville.

In Greenville, voter turnout played a significant role, with 25.5 percent of registered voters casting a ballot, far above the typical turnout. Mayor Knox White, who has served in office for nearly three decades, won handily. Similarly, Simpsonville Mayor Paul Shewmaker won in a rematch against the former mayor he unseated four years ago.

The unofficial 2023 results, which must be certified later, show the following winners of contested races:

Greenville:

- Mayor: Knox White with 6,618 votes (57.7 percent) defeating Michelle Shain with 5,045 votes (43.3 percent)
- City Council at-large: Dorothy Dowe with 6,564 votes (56.4 percent) defeating Randall Fowler with 5,071 votes (43.6 percent)

Simpsonville:

- Mayor: Paul Shewmaker with 1,135 votes (52.7 percent) defeating Warner Bouzek with 530 votes (24.6 percent) and Janice Curtis with 490 votes (22.7 percent)
- City Council Ward 1: Erin Medlin with 960 votes (47.5 percent) defeating Chad O'Rear with 658 votes (32.6 percent) and Skip Strong with 401 votes (19.9 percent)
- City Council Ward 5: Tim Pinkerton with 1,336 votes (67 percent) defeating Jermaine Smith with 658 votes (33 percent)

Mauldin, Fountain Inn, Greer, and Travelers Rest also had uncontested races for mayor, city council, and commissioner of public works.

Overall, the results of the 2023 elections in Greenville County reflect the engagement and participation of the community in shaping the leadership and direction of their local government.