Mike Burns won the Republican primary runoff tonight for District 17. Burns won 55 percent of the vote. Burns and his wife, Anne, pose after the unofficial final tally was announced.
No Democrat filed for the seat and unless one does after today’s runoff, Burns could be sworn in without requiring a special election on March 12.
Burns is a restaurant and construction business owner and Sullivan is in public relations and marketing.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the voters of S.C. House District 17 for placing their confidence and trust in me to be their voice in Columbia,” Burns said. “The people of northern Greenville County have sent a clear message, they want more common sense in state government and they want new approaches to solving the problems facing our District and our State.
“They were so eager for change that they went to the polls twice in a 15-day span when there was no other election to motivate them to turn out. I am humbled by that dedication,” Burns said.
The special election resulted when Rep. Tom Corbin, who represented the district, won a senate seat last November. Sen. Phil Shoopman of Greer withdrew after the filing deadline and Corbin entered the race when a special filing extension was granted for the vacant senate seat.