CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Two Lowcountry counties are ushering in the new year with new sheriffs.
Carl Ritchie (R) will be sworn in as the new Charleston County Sheriff during a 9 a.m. ceremony Tuesday in the Charleston County Council Chambers at the Lonnie Hamilton Public Services Building in North Charleston.
Ritchie garnered 51% of the vote in the Nov. 5 election, defeating Democratic nominee and first-term incumbent Kristin Graziano.
“Guys I’m excited about getting to work and I’m getting to work right away,” he said shortly after declaring victory. “I’m going to meet with the folks I need in the Charleston County government to talk about how we can start righting the ship and get things in place to make a stronger sheriff’s office.”
Ritchie was the longtime chief of the Mount Pleasant Department. He retired from the department in May 2021 and was elected to Mount Pleasant Town Council later that year.
He will now be tasked with leading one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the state, overseeing a multi-million-dollar budget and more than 900 employees.