Incumbent Don Nelson coasted to an easy victory Tuesday for one of two Democratic nominations to at-large county council seats.

Unofficial results showed that Nelson received 2,778 votes.

Former council member Charlie Peebles received 1,906 votes to newcomer Carla Parker’s 1,481. Neither candidate received enough votes to avoid a runoff.

The winners will face Republican candidates Steve Kelly Jr. and Hammy Moak in November. Kelly has served on Council 14 years as a Democrat but filed for re-election as a Republican.

Nelson became the first black to hold a Kershaw County County Council seat with his 1980 election. A real estate agent, Nelson said Tuesday night the November election will be “interesting and important.”

“My interest is to be a viable member of local government with one interest – that the citizens of Kershaw County,” Nelson said.

Peebles served on council from 1975 through 1978.

In her first bid for office, Mrs. Parker, a cosmetologist, has taken issue with two county ordinances passed in the past two years: a county road-use fee and mobile home requirements and registration fees.

All three candidates milled among supporters Tuesday night at the Kershaw County Courthouse, where precinct results were being posted on a bulletin board. Only one other county office was up for election Tuesday. Tillie Goodson, a Democrat, was unopposed for clerk of court.