Cameron, SC (WLTX) - A local incumbent mayor is celebrating his victory in the small town of Cameron, and it's how much he won by that's drawing attention.
Cameron is located in Calhoun County near Orangeburg. About 450 people live in the town and winning Mayor Russ Middleton needed just about every vote he got in Tuesday's contest.
"This is the nice little town of Cameron," said lifelong resident Jerome Jenkins with a smile.
Many residents say they are all friends and are happy to call the quaint spot home.
"Cameron is the place. This is it, this is it," said resident Denise Dunning.
"It's quiet. You got nice neighbors. Everyone pretty much looks out for each other, you know," said resident Pat Daly.
Like a number of his neighbors, Daly showed up to vote Tuesday night for the town's elections. One of their key races was the mayoral spot between Middleton and his challenger, Carol Summers.
"It's something everybody should go do. I'm pretty sure not everyone voted, though," said Daly.
Resident Denise Dunning admits she's one of those people who didn't vote. "I wish I had, but honestly I'm not a registered voter in this town, even though I've lived here a little while."
One hundred and fifty people cast ballots for the mayoral race, and when it was all tallied, Middleton edged out his opponent by just two votes.
"It's strange it was that close. That's an amazing thing, two votes," said Daly.
We asked Daly if he believed in the phrase "every vote counts." He responded by saying, "I do now."
Had just one person switched their vote the race would have been a tie.
"I wish Ms. Summers would have won. She would have been the first female mayor in our town," said Dunning.
Had Dunning and the relative she was with Wednesday when we met her voted, they say they would have cast their ballot for Summers. That also would have tied the election.
"Maybe right after this interview I will get myself registered to vote, and I will be voting in the next election," said Dunning.
Cameron is a little town proving a big point. Every vote does matter.
Middleton will serve for another two years, and this is his third term as mayor.
11/5/2009 12:11:49 AM
