The State: Massey wins recount in close Senate contest

The following article ran in The State:

Edgefield County Republican and political newcomer Shane Massey is the victor in the District 25 state Senate race, besting veteran Aiken Democratic state Rep. Bill Clyburn after a Thursday recount.

Unofficial results of the recount show Massey edged Clyburn by 138 votes in the Nov. 6 special election.

Massey said Clyburn called him around midday Thursday to offer congratulations for winning the hotly contested race that stood in limbo for nine days.

“I accepted his congratulations and we talked about the need to work together to be effective representatives for our area,” Massey said. “We’re gonna have to work together.”

Clyburn, a House member since 1995, represents much of the same geographic area as the Senate district covers.

The State Election Commission is expected to certify results of the recount today, according to Gary Baum, a commission spokesman.

A state law triggered the recount because the difference between the candidates’ vote totals was less than 1 percent.

Massey, a 32-year-old attorney, accumulated 7,152 votes, or 50.47 percent, to Clyburn’s 7,014 votes, or 49.49 percent. The district covers Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties, and had been represented for decades by former Sen. Tommy Moore, who resigned in August to take a job in private industry.

Under state law, Clyburn has five days, until Nov. 21, to protest the election results, Baum said. But Clyburn said he would not do so if a recount showed he lost.

“Congratulations to Shane Massey for his victory in this special election,” Clyburn said in a statement released after the recount. “I look forward to working with him as we both serve the people of our area.”

Clyburn, 66, is preparing for his daughter’s wedding, and in the statement thanked his wife, Beverly, and his supporters and said “the time of election politics is over and the time for getting to work has begun.”

Massey said he, too, is anxious to get to work.

The Legislature reconvenes Jan. 8 in Columbia, but Massey won’t have to wait to assume office. Senate assistant clerk Mike Hitchcock said Massey can be sworn in by a notary public or judge at the time and location of his choosing, or he can wait until the session opens in January.

Reach Burris at (803) 771-8398.

Massey wins recount in close Senate contest
Rep. Bill Clyburn concedes race to GOP newcomer
By RODDIE A. BURRIS
rburris@thestate.com

Posted November 26, 2007