Early voting underway as Beaufort County Republicans decide next sheriff nominee

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - More than 170,000 South Carolinians have already voted during the state’s early voting period, with races on the ballot ranging from governor and congressional seats to contested local elections.

In Beaufort County, one of the biggest matchups is the Republican primary for sheriff. This contest will help determine who ultimately leads the Sheriff’s Office for the first time in nearly three decades.

Ahead of next week’s primary, more than 7,700 voters have already cast ballots in Beaufort County, including votes in the sheriff’s race.

Two longtime law enforcement veterans face off

The Republican primary pits Doug Seifert against JoJo Woodward, two candidates who both point to decades of law enforcement experience and stress public safety and community engagement as top priorities.

Woodward, a former Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office employee, is running for the third time, after challenging current Sheriff P.J. Tanner in the last two election cycles.

Woodward worked for the Sheriff’s Office for more than 20 years, and since leaving in 2018, he has worked with the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and on multiple federal and county task forces.

“The job’s not done. We still have crime, we still have drugs, and we still have gangs,” Woodward said. “This needs to be addressed and I’m that person. I’ve got the experience to do that.”

If elected, Woodward says his focus would be on keeping crime down, managing traffic, and improving transparency in the department, particularly when it comes to the Sheriff’s Office budget.

“We’ve got to get back in our communities and build their trust and be transparent with that $36 million budget,” Woodward said. “That’s their money.”

Seifert enters race after 20 years at Sheriff’s Office, earns Tanner endorsement

Seifert recently left the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office after 20 years to run for the position.

He has also received an endorsement from Sheriff P.J. Tanner, who is retiring after 28 years leading the department.

Seifert says he wants to build on existing operations, maintain open communication with employees, continue advancing department technology, and strengthen recruitment and retention.

“I was big in recruiting—that’s a big thing—and retention,” Seifert said, “as well as the community engagement.”

Seifert also points to his experience as a town councilman, saying he wants to work with local governments on issues tied to growth and infrastructure.

“Infrastructure is our biggest enemy right now,” Seifert said. “I want to work with the county council, and I want to work with the municipalities to try and slow down the growth.”

What’s next

The winner of next week’s Republican primary will advance to the general election in November, where they will face Democratic candidate Alphonso Small Jr., a current Beaufort County School District Board member.