Upstate political candidate responds to allegations he isn’t eligible for office – WYFF4 Greenville

An Upstate political candidate is responding to allegations he's not eligible to run for office. Derrick Quarles is one of two candidates in the runoff for the Democratic nomination to represent South Carolina's 25th District in the state house. He placed second in voting last week by 28 votes and will face Wendell Jones next Tuesday for the nomination. "I decided to run this race because there are people in this community who need an advocate, who need someone to champion issues every single day," said Quarles.But two other candidates for that seat Libertarian Jack Logan and Democrat Bruce Wilson, who did not get into the runoff, said Quarles isn't eligible to run. They allege that since his 2004 felony conviction for grand larceny ended in June 2008, he cannot file to run for office until June 2023. State law requires candidates convicted of a felony wait 15 years. Quarrels said he has been pardoned. "I've been dealing with the Democratic Party on this issue for several months and it's only become an issue in the last couple days since I'm in the runoff," Quarles said.He also said he's been properly vetted by the South Carolina Democratic Party. "To my knowledge, every charge that was supposed to be pardoned to make me eligible was pardoned and (the grand larceny) charge was a charge that I acquired when I was a juvenile and so assuming that juvenile charge will not affect me as an adult," he said. "I think I'm eligible to run."Quarles said he is running on criminal justice reform and does not believe mistakes from his past should influence what he is working on now. "While I do have a stain in my past, I don't believe those things should hold me back," he said. "And so I would say to anybody that's looking at something I did 15, 16 or maybe 20 years ago, just think about the things that you've done and ask yourself would you want what you did 20 years ago to impact your life tomorrow?"Quarles said he believes there is time to get a pardon if he does need another pardon, but he said believes he is eligible to run for the seat.WYFF News 4 reached out to the South Carolina Democratic Party Monday. As of Monday evening, we have not yet heard back.

An Upstate political candidate is responding to allegations he's not eligible to run for office.

Derrick Quarles is one of two candidates in the runoff for the Democratic nomination to represent South Carolina's 25th District in the state house. He placed second in voting last week by 28 votes and will face Wendell Jones next Tuesday for the nomination.

"I decided to run this race because there are people in this community who need an advocate, who need someone to champion issues every single day," said Quarles.

But two other candidates for that seat Libertarian Jack Logan and Democrat Bruce Wilson, who did not get into the runoff, said Quarles isn't eligible to run.

They allege that since his 2004 felony conviction for grand larceny ended in June 2008, he cannot file to run for office until June 2023. State law requires candidates convicted of a felony wait 15 years. Quarrels said he has been pardoned.

"I've been dealing with the Democratic Party on this issue for several months and it's only become an issue in the last couple days since I'm in the runoff," Quarles said.

He also said he's been properly vetted by the South Carolina Democratic Party.

"To my knowledge, every charge that was supposed to be pardoned to make me eligible was pardoned and (the grand larceny) charge was a charge that I acquired when I was a juvenile and so assuming that juvenile charge will not affect me as an adult," he said. "I think I'm eligible to run."

Quarles said he is running on criminal justice reform and does not believe mistakes from his past should influence what he is working on now.

"While I do have a stain in my past, I don't believe those things should hold me back," he said. "And so I would say to anybody that's looking at something I did 15, 16 or maybe 20 years ago, just think about the things that you've done and ask yourself would you want what you did 20 years ago to impact your life tomorrow?"

Quarles said he believes there is time to get a pardon if he does need another pardon, but he said believes he is eligible to run for the seat.

WYFF News 4 reached out to the South Carolina Democratic Party Monday. As of Monday evening, we have not yet heard back.

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Upstate political candidate responds to allegations he isn't eligible for office - WYFF4 Greenville