Paul Cain “now released”

Now that Andy Inabinet has officially withdrawn from Tuesday’s special election in Oconee County Council District Three, Paul Cain is free to openly solicit write-in votes. Chairman Bob Skipp of the Oconee Republican Party, in a statement late Friday afternoon, said, “It is the position of the Oconee County Republican Party that Paul Cain is now released from the requirements of the pledge that he signed and is now allowed to actively campaign as a write-in candidate in the election on May 20.” That’s important to Cain, a Seneca attorney, for to win Tuesday he must garner more write-in votes than any other District Three resident, if he is to fill the remaining six-plus months of the term of the late Archie Barron. Joy Brooks, elections director, says she wants it known that District Three voters are welcome to write-in Cain or any other District Three resident of their choice. Cain fell off Tuesday’s ballot when he lost a special April primary to Inabinet. But Inabinet’s decision Friday to withdraw, out of consideration for his wife’s health condition, means there are no ballot candidates in Tuesday’s special General Election. According to Brooks, a note will be in place at all three voting locations to show that Inabinet has decided he no longer seeks office. Inabinet’s decision also applies to the regular primary June 10.