Mike Ward has won a seat on the Irmo Town Council after earning 333 votes, or 57% of ballots cast on Tuesday, June 3, across both Lexington and Richland Counties; the Town of Irmo resides in parts of both. 

Ward ran against George Frazier, who received  166 votes, and Edward Greco, who received 82 votes, according to official election results.

Ward currently serves as chair of the Irmo Okra Strut Commission, VP of Advocacy for the South Carolina PTA and president of InfraGard South Carolina, a press release on his candidacy announcement read. 

He also ran for school board member in 2024 for the Lexington-Richland District Five trustee position, specifically representing Richland County. He lost to Jason Baynham.

“My promise to our community is simple: I will always prioritize the well-being, transparency, and integrity our town deserves,” Ward said in a press release in April. “I am stepping forward because our community deserves proven, responsive leadership, and am focused on restoring trust and ensuring safety.”

The town council seat came open after former mayor pro-tem Erick Kenneth Sickinger was arrested in March on three counts of second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of luring/enticing or attempting to lure/entice a minor. 

Arrest warrants say Sickinger committed sexual battery on a 15-year-old male at his residence and provided marijuana to the minor. Warrants also say he was identified through communication within the minor's Snapchat account. 

On Thursday, March 6, the town of Irmo announced that Sickinger resigned from his position following the arrest and charges, effective immediately. They released this statement: 

"In accordance with state election laws, the Town of Irmo will officially notify the Election Commission and schedule a special election to fill the vacant council seat. Sickinger's unexpired term extends until 2027, and a successor will be determined through the electoral process."

Here's a more detailed rundown of the June 3 results that ended in Ward's favor: 

• In Lexington County, there was a 7.83% voter turnout with 2,937 registered voters; 230 of them voted in the June 3 special election. 
• For Lexington County, 223 voted on Election Day, six voted early and one voted by absentee mail.
• In Lexington County, Ward earned 108 votes, including 104 on Election Day, three from early voting and one from absentee mail.
• In Lexington County, Farzier earned 67 votes,  including two from early voting.
• In Lexington County, Greco earned 55 votes, including one from early voting.
• There were no write-ins in Lexington County.
• In Richland County, there was a 6.32% voter turnout with 5,556  registered voters; 351 of them voted in the June 3 special election.
• For Richland County, 346 voted on Election Day, five voted early and no one voted absentee. 
• In Richland County, Ward earned 225 votes, including 222 on Election Day, and three from early voting.
• In Richland County, Frazier earned 99 votes, including 97 on Election Day, and two from early voting.

• In Richland County, Greco earned 27 votes, all on Election Day.
• There were no write-ins in Richland County.

The next town council meeting will be Tuesday, June 17, at 6 p.m. at the Irmo Municipal Building, located at 7300 Woodrow St. in Irmo.