Image by Flickr user kfisto

Update March 23: Herbert R. Sass III caught up in the runoff to best Mark Smith.

Sass just edged out Smith with just more than 51% of the vote with some 2,500 votes cast.

The Post and Courier has a short report on the tally; read it here.

First reporting: On Tuesday, March 22nd, polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. for a primary runoff in the Republican contest for Charleston County Council District 1.

The two candidates are 40-year-old Mark Smith, co-owner and vice president of McAlister-Smith Funeral Homes, and 57-year-old Herbert Sass III, president of Sass Herrin & Associates Inc. Smith head lead the first ballot with 45% to Sass' 34%.

You can learn a bit more about the two candidates in this brief point-by-point comparison at The Post and Courier.

The winner of the GOP nomination will face-off with Democrat Richard Hricik in an April 26th general election.

If you're not sure of your polling location (or what council district you're in,) turn to the S.C. Election Commission's instant form, and here's a map of district one.