Tony Mizzell, who served on Richland County Council as a Democrat, has met with county GOP Chairman Eric Davis to seek that party’s support — or at least persuade Republicans not to come in on the side of runoff opponent Leona Plaugh.

Suspecting that Ms. Plaugh will “try to run as the Republican” in the district that has been represented by spending scourge Kirkman Finlay III, Tony told Eric that Leona has voted in Democratic primaries, which means Republicans must decide with which of two candidates with Democratic ties they can most comfortably live. He also stressed his record of working constructively with Republicans Greg Pearce, Joan Brady and Susan Brill during his time on county council. He urged Eric to speak to those parties.

But he’d like to go beyond that with the GOP: “I want their endorsement.” He expects to have at least one more meeting with local Republican leaders.

Tony told me this over coffee this morning just before he met for breakfast with Mary Baskin Waters at the Capital City Club. He’s talked with both her and Kevin Fisher, but there’s no news from those meetings yet.

Meanwhile, as you read here moments ago (bradwarthen.com, always first with the burst) the third unsuccessful candidate for the District 4 seat, Walter Powell Jr., endorsed Ms. Plaugh.