2 file to challenge Merchant for City of Sumter mayor's seat

Current City of Sumter Mayor David Merchant has two announced challengers in the 2024 general election, Reginald "Reggie" Evans and Travon Frank Adams.

Evans is not new to the election scene, having run for and lost both the Sumter City Council Ward 1 race and Sumter School District Board of Trustees' District 9 race in 2022. Now he is making his return with a run for Sumter mayor.

"The people of Sumter deserve honest, diligent representation," Evans wrote in a news release. "I am asking for your vote and support to restore integrity and confidence in city government and give the people a strong voice in the future for their family, community and our city."

Evans said he looks forward to partaking in "great discussions" on the direction of Sumter until voting takes place in November and hearing from Sumter's residents about how to improve Sumter.

"The people of Sumter want a new approach, and I will dedicate the next four years for better education, public safety and health care in the city," Evans said.

Adams announced his intention to run in late spring at a local party convention, and though this is his first election, it is not his first time working in elections. Adams has campaigned with Bernie Sanders and said he has always known he wanted to get involved in Sumter's politics.

"I've got a long track record of getting out to vote and serving the public good, and that's pretty much what I'm all about - that's why I'm running," Adams said. "I moved back home to get back pretty much to the town where I grew up from."

Adams is a combat veteran who served in Iraq and is a graduate of USC Columbia, where he graduated with a political science degree and did social work. Now, he is back in Sumter, where his family has a rich history. Adams said his grandfather was Sumter's first Black social worker.

"I want to inspire the town where I grew up from, basically, and I want to give back to my town," Adams said.

Adams said he wants to make Sumter a place for youth to stay when they grow up and that he would prioritize Sumter having a desirable "work, live, play balance."

Merchant, who was elected in 2020, announced in early spring he would be running for reelection.

There is still time for other candidates to file to run for mayor, as filing will remain open until noon on July 31. The race is nonpartisan.