Havoc in Berkeley Elections After Court Decision

This story has been updated with a note from Tim Callanan that he'll have to check with the candidates to make sure who will be impacted.

Berkeley County voters could be left with fewer choices in their party primaries and in the general election after a S.C. Supreme Court ruling Wednesday that will have impacts on 2012 ballots across the state.

The state ruled for the plaintiff in a case if they filed their paperwork to run in the party primary without also filing a statement of economic interest — as required by state law.

Berkeley County Republican Party Chairman Tim Callanan said he'll have to check with each candidate before knowing for sure which candidates will be impacted.

He said the decision may impact the candidacy of both GOP candidates for the new S.C. House District 15: Charles Davis and Samuel Rivers. It should also impact Ken Gunn, who was challenging incumbent Bob Call in the primary, and Allen Weiss, who was set to challenge Democratic Rep. Joe Jefferson for the S.C. House District 102 seat.

It's unclear how the decision would impact Democratic challengers Barbara McGowin (S.C. Senate District 14) and Marian Redish (S.C. House District 15). But we will likely still see a rematch in the District 100 race that went to Republican Eddy Southard in a special election last year. Democrat Tonia Aiken-Taylor already files the economic interest forms as a member of the Moncks Corner City Council.