PICKENS — The changing face of Pickens County will be more clearly depicted on the County Council come this fall, following Tuesday’s ouster of longtime Pickens government leader and incumbent council member Ben Trotter.

Trotter was soundly defeated — 2,229 to 1,450 — in his re-election bid Tuesday by former NFL player and coach Sam Wyche, now a resident of an upscale, gated community in Pickens County.

However, while Trotter’s familiar face may be seen somewhat less around the government compound, veteran Sheriff David Stone appears to be headed back to his office for an unprecedented 11th term.

Stone claimed 50.89 percent of the vote, narrowly avoiding a runoff election. His vote total of 7,032 surpassed those of Clemson University policeman and Liberty City Councilman Rick Clark, 5,557, and veteran law enforcement officer Brian Garrett, 1,229. Both of Stone’s challengers campaigned on a platform of change.

Three other Pickens County offices will be led by newcomers following this fall’s general election, but one those races remains up in the air as none of the four candidates for clerk of the court was able to secure 50 percent of the vote.

Pat Welborn, who picked up a late endorsement from outgoing clerk LaJette Gatlin, received 4,884 votes, but law enforcement officer Ben Finley picked up 3,579 and Clemson University policeman Jimmy Moore garnered 3,153 votes. Adding in 1,707 votes for Ben Mann, Welborn was denied a clear majority.

He will square off against Finley in a runoff election June 24.

“I’m going to try and convince as many people as possible to come out and vote on the 24th,” Welborn said. “Hopefully, the same people who supported Jimmy Moore and Ben Mann will support me.”

Finley admitted that both candidates have their work cut out for them in luring voters back to the polls. “We had a light turnout tonight, and normally it’s even lighter when you get back to a runoff. I’ve got to make sure and dot all my ‘I’s’ and cross all my ‘T’s’ and knock on doors to get support.”

Deputy County Auditor Brent Suddeth won his bid to take charge of that office, out-polling fellow Republican April Gillespie, who now works in the Assessor’s Office, 7,631 to 5,572.

Likewise, Deputy County Coroner Kandy Kelley succeeded in her bid to take charge of that office, getting 7,994 votes to easily outdistance Mitchell Davis (3,055) and Tommy Smith (2,350).

Pickens County Director of Registrations and Elections Ashley Harris said operations went smoothly for the primary.

“We got the results in quickly,” Harris said. “I’m very pleased with the job of our poll workers and election staff.”