AIKEN --- Aiken County native Sandy Haskell won the county council District 5 seat by a landslide in Tuesday's race.

He garnered 76 percent of the 870 votes, defeating Democrat Judy Hamilton, who took 22 percent.

Mr. Haskell said he and his opponent worked hard throughout the campaign.

"I'm just pleased with the results and all the support," he said. "I've got an awful lot to learn in a very short period of time."

Ms. Hamilton said she was disappointed by the results and the turnout, with just 7 percent of voters taking part in Tuesday's special election.

"I expected a lot more people to turn out," she said after viewing the results.

About 5 percent of voters turned out for the primary in September for the special election to fill the seat vacated by Eddie Butler, who resigned because he was leaving his district, said Stuart Bedenbaugh, the executive director of Aiken County Registration and Elections.

"It's the turnout we expected, but it is subpar for a special election," he said.