Town of Irmo residents declared Gabriel Penfield as the town's new council member in the Feb. 27 special election. 

The at-large seat was left vacant after Mayor Bill Danielson unseated incumbent Barry Walker last November. 

The two names on the ballot, Penfield and George Frazier, were both familiar to voters. 

With three of six Lexington County precincts reporting, Penfield received 179 (73.66%) votes while Frazier received 63 (25.93%) with one write-in.

Over in Richland County, with 14 out of 16 precincts reporting, the results were similar with Penfield receiving 299 (77.66%) votes and Frazier with 85 (22.08%) votes including one write-in. 

The combined total between the two counties that touch Irmo showed that Penfield received 478 (76.11%) votes while Frazier received 148 (23.57%) votes.

This was Penfield’s second run for Irmo Town Council after losing out on securing one of the two seats last fall by a thin margin. He was bested by Phyllis Coleman by 25 votes.

He previously told The Chronicle that he has been playing an active part in the community, talking with Lexington-Richland District 5 superintendent about increasing the curb appeal of schools. 

Penfield also said he has been active within the Harbison Gardens community. According to 2023 reporting from The Chronicle, the Columbia apartment complex is thought to be contributing to crime making its way into Irmo.

Penfield faced some challenges this campaign when an Irmo police officer was fired for stealing his political signs, as detailed in earlier reporting from The Chronicle. The signs went missing along Woodrow Street, Columbia Avenue, College Street, Broad River Road and within private neighborhoods.

Penfield said the incident is disappointing since campaigning takes time and effort, adding that you don’t get paid to run for council and that you barely get paid to serve. Penfield said that every location where a sign has been placed is where permission has been granted.

Following last year’s election, Penfield filed two protests, one taking aim at the votes that were cast for Frazier and the other having to do with activities that allegedly transpired at polling locations. Hearings were held Nov. 10, and ultimately, the county’s election commission voted  unanimously to keep the election as it stands for both hearings.

Despite his name having been on the ballot in November, Frazier was ineligible due to not reporting his move from Richland to Lexington County at least 30 days before the election.

Frazier previously told The Chronicle that some of his goals this time around include widening Broad River Road, saying that as the town grows, traffic is going to be one of the main priorities. Another goal includes upping safety in Irmo through supporting law enforcement.