Elections

William Adkins, a Williamstown attorney, is seeking the 4th congressional district seat being vacated by a 4-term incumbent.
Adkins, 56, a Democrat, has been practicing law in Williamstown in Grant County.
Other than what he calls “an unenergetic run for city council” in 2010 in Williamstown, Adkins has not run for political office.
Despite this, he has been a member of the Grant County Democratic executive committee for 12 years and has chaired the committee from 2008 to present.

Running for his fourth term on the Shelby County Board of Education, Sam Hinkle has a focus on one thing: achievement.

Hinkle, who for 12 years has served District 2, said “Academic achievement for all students” is the biggest issue facing the board.

He points to three programs as the board’s biggest achievements in his time — all-day kindergarten, the accelerated academies at both high schools and summer school for those needing extra help in reading — and all three are focused on achievement.

Karen Sams said she looks at the Shelby County Board of Education and sees a lack of efficiency.

“The biggest issue facing our school system today is how to provide quality education efficiently,” she said. “I feel this is a shortfall with our current school board, and I chose to run to ensure that change will do us a good.”

That’s why Sams has again entered the race for the school board’s 2nd District. She ran against incumbent Sam Hinkle in 2008 and lost by 17 votes.

Sharon Cummins, who has spent most of her life as a resident of Simpsonville, is seeking a third term on the Simpsonville City Commission.

Cummins is one of five candidates for the four spots on the commission, to which she was elected in 2008. Elections are non-partisan and are held every two years, with the mayor elected to a 4-year term.