Burns missed outright election by eight votes, needing 50 percent plus one vote, in Tuesday’s primary, getting 49.96 percent. He received 1,114 votes, among five candidates. Sullivan received 874 votes.
Burns and Sullivan own businesses in Travelers Rest.
No Democrat filed for the seat and unless one does after the Feb. 5 runoff, the Burns-Sullivan winner could be sworn in without requiring a special election on March 12.
Tuesday’s vote totals of 2,242 cast:
Mike Burns restaurant and construction business owner, 1,114
Chris Sullivan, public relations and marketing business owner, 874
Roy Harmon, USC law student, from Greenville, 143
Tom Kolarik, chiropractor from Travelers Rest, 75
Randall Young, retired farmer, Travelers Rest, 24
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.
This was the first election in Greenville County since the state’s voter ID law went into effect Jan. 1.