2022 voter guide: Here are candidates running for SC House seats in Upstate
Primaries for the 2022 elections in South Carolina will be held June 14 as voters whittle down Republican and Democratic candidates ahead of the general election on Nov. 8.
Voters can participate in any one party's primary in South Carolina, which does not provide registration by party.
If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in the race for an office, a runoff will be held on June 28, and voters who participated in that party's primary will be eligible to vote in the runoff.
Visit scvotes.gov to register to vote, check eligibility, view sample ballots and find polling places. Voters must register at least 30 days in advance of an election to vote in it.
The information below is provided by The Greenville News, Anderson Independent Mail and Spartanburg Herald Journal as a service to our readers.
Reporting like this would not be possible without our subscribers. Please subscribe by visiting greenvillenews.com, independentmail.com or goupstate.com.
On the ballot: Here's who is running for US Congress and Senate
SC governor elec: Who's running for governor of South Carolina
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 1
Republicans
Candidate: Bill Whitmire (Incumbent)
Occupation: Retired educator, farm owner
Political experience: House of Representatives since 2003 and is the incumbent representative in District 1; Mayor of Walhalla, 2000-2002; Mayor Pro Tempore, 1998-1999; Walhalla City Council
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Whitmire in South Carolina.
No political campaign website is available
Candidate: Wally Sparks
Occupation: Retired police chief
Political experience: No previous political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Sparks in South Carolina.
Website: https://wallysparksforlegislaturedistrict1.com/
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 4
Republicans
Candidate: Davey Hiott (Incumbent)
Occupation: Owner, Hiott Printing Company. Hiott is the incumbent representative in District 4.
Political experience: Hiott is the incumbent representative in District 4
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Hiott in South Carolina.
No political campaign website is available
Candidate: Matthew Kutilek
Occupation: Retired U.S. Marine, motivational speaker
Political experience: No previous political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Kutilek in South Carolina.
Website: https://votematthewkutilek.com/
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 5
Republicans
Candidate: Neal Collins (Incumbent)
Occupation: Attorney/NCAA Wrestling Official
Political experience: House of representative since 2015 and is the incumbent in District 5
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Collins in South Carolina.
No political campaign website is available
Candidate: Clay Hamlett
Occupation: Student
Political experience: No previous political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Hamlett in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/electclayhamlett
Candidate: Dennis Bo Roberts
Occupation: Work experience ranges from non-profit to public sectors; previously worked for the U.S. Congress, Executive Office of the President and Department of State.
Political experience: No previous political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Roberts in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.dennisbroberts.com/home
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 6
Republicans
Candidate: Brian White (Incumbent)
Occupation: Account executive, Marsh & McLennan Insurance
Political experience: House of Representatives since 2001 and is the incumbent in District 6
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against White in South Carolina.
Website: https://brianwhitesc.org/
Candidate: April Cromer
Occupation: Auditor
Political experience: No previous political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Cromer in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.cromerforhouse.com/
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 7
Republicans
Candidate: Alex Foppoli
Occupation: Manufacturing
Political experience: No previous political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Foppoli in South Carolina.
Website: https://savesouthcarolina.net/
Candidate: Jay West (Incumbent)
Occupation: Businessman & consultant
Political experience: House of Representatives since 2017 and is the incumbent in District 7; Mayor Pro Tempore, Belton City Council in 2014; Belton City Council in 2012
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against West in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/JayWestforSCHouse7
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 10
Republicans
Candidate: Westley "West" Cox (Incumbent)
Occupation: Attorney
Political experience: Cox is the incumbent for District 10
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Cox in South Carolina.
Website: http://westcox.com/
Candidate: Thomas Beach
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Political experience: No previous political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Beach in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.beachforhouse.com/
Candidate: Mark Durham
Occupation: Retired from law enforcement at Clemson University
Political experience: No previous political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Durham in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.markdurhamsc10.com/
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 18
Republicans
Candidate: Keith Jones
Occupation: Retired teacher
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Jones in South Carolina.
Website: https://votekeithjones.com/
Candidate: Timothy Alan Morgan
Occupation: Director of sales and technology
Political experience: Morgan won a special election to fill former Rep. Tommy Stringer's seat in March.
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Morgan in South Carolina.
Website: https://morganforsc.com/
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 22
Republicans
Candidate: Jason Elliott
Occupation: Attorney
Political experience: Elliott has represented District 22 since 2017.
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Elliott in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.votejasonelliott.com/
Candidate: Brett Brocato
Occupation: Engineer
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Brocato in South Carolina.
Website: https://brettbrocato.com/
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 25
Democrats
Candidate: Adriene Atkinson
Occupation: Social worker
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Atkinson in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.adriene4district25.com/
Candidate: Justin Bennett
Occupation: Assistant manager at Sonic
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Bennett in South Carolina.
Website: http://justinsc4.com/
Candidate: Wendell Jones
Occupation: Pastor and janitorial services company owner
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Jones in South Carolina.
Website: wendellkjones.com/
Candidate: Derrick Quarles
Occupation: Educator
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed felony charges for grand larceny, breach of trust with fraudulent intent, and financial identity fraud for Quarles in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.derrickforsc.com/
Candidate: Bruce Wilson
Occupation: CEO of Fighting Injustice Together
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed seven felony convictions for Wilson in South Carolina, including distribution of cocaine and domestic violence.
Website: https://www.bruceforhousedistrict25.com/
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 27
Republicans
Candidate: Cynthia Horner
Occupation: Chiropractor
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Horner in South Carolina.
Website: https://votehorner.com/
Candidate: Laird Minor
Occupation: Retired lawyer and businessman
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Minor in South Carolina.
Website: https://www.votelaird.com/
Candidate: David Vaughan
Occupation: Business owner
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Vaughan in South Carolina.
Website: https://m.facebook.com/VaughanforSC
Candidate: Ira Williams
Occupation: Author and healthcare consultant
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Williams in South Carolina.
No political campaign website
Candidates running for SC House of Representatives District 36
Republicans
Candidate: Rita Allison
Occupation: Retired from communications
Political experience: Allison has represented District 36 since 2009 after previously serving in the state House from 1993 to 2002.
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Allison in South Carolina.
Website: http://www.ritaallison.com/
Candidate: Rob Harris
Occupation: Registered nurse
Political experience: No prior political experience
Background check: A search of court records revealed no felony conviction or civil judgment against Harris in South Carolina.
Website: https://harrisforsc.com/
Spartanburg County SC House primaries
Click here to read about contested Statehouse primaries in Spartanburg County.
Other elections coming in November to South Carolina
The following races have no primary on June 14 but are slated to be on November's general-election ballot in Greenville County:
SC House of Representatives District 2
SC House of Representatives District 3
SC House of Representatives District 7 (There will be a Republican primary, but Democrat Chris Salley is unopposed)
SC House of Representatives District 8
SC House of Representatives District 9
SC House of Representatives District 11
SC House of Representatives District 16
SC House of Representatives District 17
SC House of Representatives District 19
SC House of Representatives District 20
SC House of Representatives District 21
SC House of Representatives District 23
SC House of Representatives District 24
SC House of Representatives District 28
SC House of Representatives District 35
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: 2022 voter guide: Candidates running for SC House seats in the Upstate
