Aiken County has a new sheriff, as Republican Marty Sawyer emerged victorious in today’s election, defeating Democrat Lucas Grant in a hard-fought race.
With 89/89 precincts reporting, Sawyer received 43,971 votes (63.19% ), while Grant received 25,489 votes (36.63%).
“I’m just humbled by the support,” Sawyer said. “I’m humbled by the amount of people that have faith in me and trust in me to lead the sheriff’s office. The only promise I made is that I’ll work hard, and that’s what we’ll start doing this week is to start working hard (creating) a command staff, reviewing policies and procedures and budget and get the ball rolling.”
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Sawyer, who has spent 40 years serving the citizens of Aiken County, will now lead the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and replace retiring Sheriff Michael Hunt. Sawyer’s extensive law enforcement background, which includes rising through the ranks of the Aiken Department of Public Safety, was a central focus of his campaign. As Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division, he managed major crime investigations and multi-million-dollar budgets, experience he promised to bring to the Sheriff’s Office to improve public safety and strengthen community relations.
In his closing remarks, Sawyer emphasized his deep ties to Aiken County, stating that his lifelong residence and service had allowed him to develop personal and professional relationships crucial to effective law enforcement. His key priorities include enhancing school safety by adding more School Resource Officers, improving patrol presence in rural areas, and introducing a DNA analyst to speed up criminal investigations. He also highlighted his commitment to building a strong, integrity-driven leadership team within the department.
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Sawyer’s campaign was endorsed by various local law enforcement groups, including the South Carolina Realtors Political Action Committee and CSRA Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #6, and he garnered support from the retiring sheriff, Solicitor Bill Weeks, Coroner Darryl Ables and several state lawmakers.
In contrast, Democrat Lucas Grant, who brought 14 years of experience from one of Georgia’s largest sheriff’s offices, stressed the need for fresh leadership and accountability in the Sheriff’s Office. Grant, who experienced the personal tragedy of losing his father to violent crime in Aiken County, promised a focus on improving case investigations, traffic safety, and youth protection. He also proposed creating specialized divisions for criminal investigations, recruiting, and gang prevention. Despite his experience and vision for reform, Grant’s candidacy ultimately fell short.
Grant’s proposal to boost youth safety, particularly through the addition of School Resource Officers and community engagement programs, was a major component of his platform. He also advocated for improved training for deputies and a new Intelligence Unit to combat gang activity in the area.
Voter turnout was strong as Aiken County residents went to the polls to decide who would take on the responsibility of overseeing the county’s law enforcement. With Sawyer’s win, the focus now shifts to how he will implement his vision for a safer and more secure Aiken County.
