Former trustee Canty bests Hilton for Sumter school board District 3 seat

Ralph Canty is the new District 3 representative on Sumter School District’s Board of Trustees following Tuesday’s night election.

According to unofficial election-night totals, Canty earned 53.27% of the new district’s vote, or 1,742 votes. Incumbent Johnny Hilton took 45.66%, or 1,493 votes. Write-in candidates took the other 1.1% of the total vote. Voting included absentee ballots and early voting.

Votes will be made official on Friday, according to the Sumter County Voter Registration and Elections Office, when they are certified.

A bivocational pastor and owner of two funeral homes in Sumter, Canty served nine years from 2011 to 2020 on the consolidated district’s board and a few years before that on the former Sumter School District 17 board for about 12 years total.

Canty said Sumter County needs one vision and the school board must be united for the betterment of its students.

“When the polls closed tonight, the rivalry or contest was over,” he said. “It is now time for this community to come together and focus on what is perhaps its weakest link and that is the public school system. We cannot do that as a divided community. We need the energy, expertise, commitment and passion of all to ensure that our children get the best possible education in our school system.”

Canty added that he is thankful for another opportunity to make a difference on the board.

Hilton served two terms on the school board, dating back to 2014.