Gay South Carolina police chief makes historic sheriff's run

LATTA, S.C. (AP) — A small town police chief in staunchly conservative South Carolina is trying to make history by becoming the first female sheriff in the state.

When the tape surfaced, residents voted in a special election to strip the mayor of his power and the Town Council rehired Moore.

[...] Moore is running for sheriff in Dillon County, a former tobacco hub of 31,000, probably best known for its South of the Border rest stop — a Mexican-themed collection of restaurants and gas stations — on Interstate 95 near the North Carolina state line.

Moore is running as a petition candidate, unaffiliated with any party, against a Democratic incumbent seeking a third term.

Not being associated with any party may hurt her because the 15 percent to 25 percent of county voters who hit the button to vote a straight Democrat ticket will automatically select Sheriff Major Hulon.

The county's unemployment rate remains a few percentage points above the state average and residents complain about the crime rate, although viable statistics are hard to find.

Donors paid a good chunk of the $20,000 in legal bills she racked up getting her job back as Latta's police chief.