Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Runoff elections to occur in Myrtle Beach mayor, council races

Myrtle Beach residents will have to wait two more weeks to find out who their mayor is.

None of the five candidates for mayor received the 50 percent plus one vote required for a clear win, though Mayor John Rhodes and former Mayor Mark McBride received more votes than anyone else.

Their two names will be on the runoff ballot, as they were when Rhodes defeated McBride in 2005.

Rhodes received 2,540 of the 5,389 votes. Mark McBride was second with 1,472 and Bill Howard third at 944.

McBride was mayor from 1997 to 2006, and Rhodes has served since.

The race for mayor has been heated, with personal attacks and allegations about campaign contributions.

For City Council, Wayne Gray retained his seat while Mike Lowder, Chuck Martino and Randal Wallace in runoff for two seats.

7:52 p.m. - Myrtle Beach Mayor: John Rhodes 860, Mark McBride 532, Bea Catalano 72, Bill Howard 441, Matt McCarty 76

Myrtle Beach City Council: Keith Compton 624, Don Emery 576, Wayne Gray 972, Mike Lowder 741, Pete Lusardi 39, Chuck Martino 635, Karon Mitchell 571, Terry Mitchem 93, Adam Parness 396, C.D. Rosza 19, Joanne Vogelsong 126, Randal Wallace 775

7:30 p.m. _ 216 absentee ballots counted in Myrtle Beach.

Mayor: John Rhodes 136, Mark McBride 52, Bea Catalano 4, Bill Howard 17, Matt McCarty 7

Council: Keith Compton 91, Don Emery 32, Wayne Gray 129, Mike Lowder 42, Pete Lusardi 4, Chuck Martino 93, Karon Mitchell 42, Terry Mitchem 2, Adam Parness 34, C.D. Rosza 2, Joanne Vogelsong 15, Randal Wallace 123.