FOLLY BEACH — This funky island community has a new leader for the first time in 15 years.

Unofficial election night reports show voters favored councilman and web developer Chris Bizzell over real estate agent Elton Culpepper as Folly Beach’s next mayor in a closely watched runoff race on Nov. 18.

A small crowd huddled around the Folly Beach Baptist Church in the half hour before polls closed. Culpepper and Bizzell spoke with friends and neighbors. Laughter and chatter filled the air as last minute voters trickled into the polling place.

A poll worker stuck his head out of the church’s double doors—it was 7 p.m. and the polls were now closed.

A hush fell over the gathered voters when those church doors opened again about 22 minutes later. A poll worker taped the results to the outside

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