ST. MATTHEWS – Despite impressive wins in his two previous elections, Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers is facing still another challenger in the Nov. 4 general election.

The veteran Democrat, who won reelection in 2004 with 80 percent of the vote, will face Republican A.J. Logan, a retired Highway Patrol trooper making a second bid for office.

Taking 75 percent of the Democratic primary vote in June, Summers defeated Elloree police investigator Lin Shirer by a vote of 1,887 to 595. Logan had no GOP primary opposition.

In the 2004 Democratic primary, Summers won in a blowout over Logan and D.C. “Bing” Jones. Logan was the low vote-getter with 7 percent of the total.

Neither candidate is a stranger to party switching.

Summers first won election as a Republican in 2000 in a hard-fought campaign against Jones, the Democratic incumbent. He then switched to the Democratic Party in 2004.

After running as a Democrat in 2004, Logan switched to the GOP for his latest bid for public office.

Calhoun County has 9,655 registered voters, of whom 5,408 are white, 4,191 are black and 56 are designated “other.”

Thomas SummersPleased with his eight-year tenure as sheriff, Summers says that Calhoun County is “the fourth-safest county in the state.”

He said, “We have a wonderful work ethic. In law enforcement, you can’t punch a time clock. And as far as being professional, I’d back this as the most professional sheriff’s office in the history of Calhoun County. These guys work hard and they’re dedicated. That’s why we’ve been able to keep the crime rate down and increase our crime (solve) rate.

“When I took office, we had the second-lowest crime solve rate of any sheriff in South Carolina. Now, we’re the fourth-safest county in the state and our crime solve rate is about the national average. It’s risen significantly. We’re up there with the best of them.”

At the same time, Summers says his office continues to come up with new programs, such as community outreach to youth.

“Everything is going real good in Calhoun County like it is,” he said.

The sheriff says he’s particularly proud that, “I’ve always been consistently available to the public.” Appointments are not necessary and county residents know how to reach him. Also, he notes his office holds community meetings and seminars.

“I’ve got two phones, just call. People come to my house. I’m more accessible probably than any other public official in the county,” he said. “My door is always open to the public. No one can say they came to see the sheriff and didn’t get help.”

Running on his record, Summers says his platform is the same as it was in the June primary against Shirer.

“I beat (Shirer) three-to-one and he outspent me three-to-one, too,” he said. “Now, (Logan) has switched parties. I think he thinks the presidential election may help him. I don’t think it will help his effort. I’m more qualified.”

Comparing his 22-year record in law enforcement to his opponent’s on the Highway Patrol, Summers says Logan has, “a lot of experience writing tickets.”

A native of Calhoun County, Summers graduated from high school and attended Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. He is a member of various state professional organizations.

A.J. LoganAlthough he trailed in the voting four years ago, Logan says he’s running because “we’ve still got the problems we had.” And he argues the 80 percent who supported Summers in 2004 have “had four years to change their minds.”

“I have the same issues that there were last time. I just want to help the people,” he said. “I’m very upbeat about this time. People want a change.”

Although declining to cite specific issues -- “I can’t get into,” he says -- Logan maintains that problems in the county have gotten worse. The people “want something for their efforts,” and want a candidate who is accountable and caring.

“We’re running hard, working every day as hard as we can. The voter response has been wonderful,” he said. “Before, it was lukewarm, now it’s red hot. People are ready for a change in this whole campaign and not just mine.”

As for why he switched parties, Logan says he’s “always been a Republican, but I just didn’t know it.” And he discounts any connection between the presidential election and his race.

What is different, Logan says, is that unlike the 2004 matchup that was confined to the Democratic primary, “this time the whole county will decide.”

Logan retired in June 2003 as a district lieutenant in Orangeburg. The former post commander spent most of his law enforcement career in Calhoun County with some service in Columbia on a state level. Although his own law enforcement experience has been with the Highway Patrol, he explains that he’s had all of the basic law enforcement training.

“Being a state trooper, we went to all types of law enforcement training. I was not just writing tickets and working wrecks,” he said. “I was on the first drug team the state started, before the counties even got in the drug business. I’ve been trained in advanced accident investigation. All of the basic law enforcement, I’ve had.”

A native of Greenwood and a high school graduate, Logan has lived in Calhoun County since 1972. His Highway Patrol career included 20 years on patrol in the county, as well as service as a lieutenant over all administrative enforcement in Columbia and then for District 7.

Logan is a Mason and a member of the S.C. Law Enforcement Association, the State Troopers Association and the American Troopers Association.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by calling 803-533-5545.

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