Voters decided to keep Sheriffs Hobart Lewis and Chuck Wright in office

Voters in Greenville and Spartanburg County have decided they want to keep most of the incumbents in office in the statewide primary on Tuesday, June 11.

Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis defeated challenger Mike Fortner. In Spartanburg County, longtime Sheriff Chuck Wright defeated a challenge from Nick Duncan.

Mike Ellis will become Greenville County's new coroner, defeating Dale Arterburn.

Greenville County Sheriff

Lewis was re-elected with 31,437 votes to Fortner's 6,481. Lewis was first elected after a special election in 2020.

The Greenville News contacted Sheriff Hobart Lewis; no response has yet been received.

Fortner spent more than 28 years with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office before retiring in 2022. He began his law enforcement career as a reserve deputy and became a uniformed patrol deputy full time. He also worked in the White Collar Criminal Investigation Division and focused on the Domestic Violence, Robbery and Homicide Units.

Fortner worked in the Office of Professional Standards and finished his career in the Professional Compliance Unit. Fortner and his wife currently own a wedding venue in Taylors.

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Spartanburg County Sheriff

Sheriff Chuck Wright won with 24,296 votes to Duncan's 4,771 votes.

Wright has been sheriff since 2004.

“I always want to thank God first, and I want to tell all the voters how much I appreciate their support and their belief in me, and I promise we will work harder than ever,” Wright said. “It's not my position; it's your position, it's your seat, and I'm going to keep it clean. I'm going to work very hard and make you proud for re-electing me as sheriff.”

Duncan worked with Wright for nearly a decade. After several years with Spartanburg Emergency Medical Services, beginning in the late 2000s, Duncan transitioned to law enforcement with the Sheriff's Office in 2014. He started in the criminal investigations unit in 2017 and finished his career investigating property crimes.

Greenville County Clerk of Court

In the race for Clerk of Court, Jay Gresham defeated Brice Garrett with 25,272 votes, to Garrett's 24,157 votes.

Garrett was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster in July 2023. She was appointed after the retirement of former Clerk of Court Paul B. Wickensimer. Wickensimer served as clerk of court for 23 years. Garrett has spent 20 years in the healthcare, communications, facilities and provider liaison industries.

Gresham served as a law clerk to Judge Edward W. Miller in Greenville from 2020 to 2021. He became a deputy solicitor in 2021 and remains in that position.

“I would like my supporters to know that I am very grateful and appreciate their participation at the polls today. I think I read an article, the turnout was low, but it was wonderful that they were present, I'm very grateful,” Gresham said. “I look forward to serving the people of Greenville County. I look forward to continuing to serve them as I served them as their prosecutor, and I will serve them in this new role.”

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Greenville County Coroner

Mike Ellis is Greenville County's new coroner after defeating Dale Arterburn. Ellis received 24,059 votes and Arterburn received 11,674 votes.

Bobby Parks Evans Jr. resigns after more than two years as coroner.