Myrtle Beach Leader

A Horry County man, who cited his grandfather's experience during World War II for why he votes in every election, said during a post-General Election interview that voting for sheriff is almost as important as the presidential vote.

Even if the sheriff is running unopposed.

Chris Neely told the Myrtle Beach Leader that he voted for Republican Horry County Sheriff Phillip E. Thompson, in part to say he could and because the office of sheriff is essential.

"I think, actually, the Sheriff's position is just as important, to a lot of people in many ways — not necessarily as important as the presidential election this year — but generally it means a lot more than just about any other election, maybe, than the president," Neely told the Myrtle Beach Leader.

Thompson, a 42-year law enforcement veteran, previously served in the Myrtle Beach and Horry County police department before he assumed office as Horry County Sheriff in January 2001. Thompson was unopposed in his reelection bid during the General Election.

South Carolinians cast more than 1.3 million ballots in the 2020 General Election, the U.S. Elections Project reported. A record-breaking number of voters in the state requested ballots in the run-up to the election and had a return rate of 97.2%.

Deciding who will be sheriff is vital because that law enforcement position often stands between citizens and "the bureaucrats," Neely said.

"Because the sheriff is the one who enacts the laws and is the only one who can stand between citizens, whether they are left-wing or right-wing or moderates, of a county and the bureaucrats that may try to impose law that citizens of that county may or may not believe in," Neely said. "They have to go to the county, a lot of times through the sheriff, to do certain things. The sheriff, sometimes, can stand up for citizens who reside in a certain county before other people can."

Which is why, next to the presidential race, the sheriff's race "was most important" this year, Neely said.

"I do think there was a lot more at stake, [and that] people realize it now," Neely said. "It was always at stake, in any presidential election, or any election to be honest with you. Any time you elect an official, whether local or state or federal, really if you do it the way I do it, you would believe that it's always important. I've never not voted since I was 18 years old. I'm 42 now."

Neely credited his grandfather's harrowing experience during World War II for his solid voting record and the reason he offers to anyone wondering why they should bother to vote.

Neely said his grandfather was a paratrooper in the European theater in 1944 who lost half a leg to a landmine and ended up spending considerable time in a foxhole before he was treated during that year's bitterly cold winter.

"If my grandfather can go through one of the coldest winters in European history with half his leg blown off, fighting for freedom — and by the way, that's what makes American an exceptional nation, that's what we do as Americans," Neely said. "He did. So, if he can do that, [and] I can't vote? I can't take myself every two years? I don't want everybody just to say, 'I'm going to vote.' I want you to first say, 'I need to go educate myself as to who I am gonna vote for.' Think of it."