Lone challenger in Rock Hill City Council race drops out; elections held next week

Despite the withdrawal of the only challenger in a Rock Hill City Council race this week, voters who turn out to the polls next Tuesday still will decide the outcome of the race.

That’s because the names of both incumbent Councilwoman Kathy Pender and challenger Woody O’Neal will be listed on the Oct. 20 ballot for Ward 2’s council seat, even though O’Neal announced Monday he intends to withdraw from the race.

Two other City Council members who were up for re-election this year – Sandra Oborokumo and Kevin Sutton – drew no opposition, so elections for those seats were canceled. They will return to the council for another four years without voters in their wards having the opportunity to cast a ballot.

O’Neal, 71, said he doesn’t have the time to devote to the job and would rather tell people ahead of time he doesn’t intend to serve rather than go forward with the race.

“I just have so many things going on in my life right now, and I don’t want to do a poor job,” O’Neal told The Herald. “I decided I can’t do it at this time.”

As of Tuesday morning, O’Neal had not formally filed any paperwork to withdraw, and was still listed as an “active” candidate with the York County Voter Registration and Election Office. Even if O’Neal did formally withdraw, ballots already have been prepared.

“It’s too late,” said deputy elections director Allen Helms. “The election is still going forward.”

That’s why Pender, the three-term incumbent representing the northern portion of the city between Celanese and Cherry roads, is encouraging voters to get out to the polls.

“It still very much matters,” Pender said. “The votes will still be counted, and the one with the most votes will be elected to City Council.”

Helms confirmed O’Neal could still win the election even if he officially withdrew, although such a situation is so rare he was unsure what the legal ramifications would be.

O’Neal said he was encouraged to run because of the condition of roads around the city and other transportation issues, as well as a perceived “imbalance” in development between the eastern side of the city near Interstate 77 and the rest of Rock Hill.

He has lived in Rock Hill for 45 years, and previously worked with the state Department of Transportation. He currently works in the Charlotte city utility department as well as a part-time job with North Carolina’s emergency management office. He said he reached his decision in part after being called up to deal with issues resulting from the recent heavy rainfall, which caused him to be away from home for long periods of time.

While he doesn’t feel like he can fulfill the duties of a city councilman right now, O’Neal said he hopes to run for office again.

“The one thing I’d really like them to do,” he said, “would be to postpone the election for a year and a half so I get my life together a little.”

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 10:37 AM with the headline "Lone challenger in Rock Hill City Council race drops out; elections held next week."