Candidates square off in coroner race

Wooten, Dunlap share experience in public service

The two Republican candidates for Charleston County coroner describe themselves as compassionate, a necessary trait in a job that revolves around death.

The Coroner's Office conducts independent investigations of traumatic deaths, deaths that occur outside of hospitals and deaths that occur suddenly or unexpectedly. Its duties include notifying families, positively identifying the deceased and determining the manner of death.

The incumbent is Rae Wooten, but this is her first election.

She was chief deputy coroner when Coroner Susan Chewning resigned in 2006. Gov. Mark Sanford appointed Wooten to serve out the remainder of Chewning's term.

Her opponent, Robert Dunlap Jr., also is no stranger to the Coroner's Office. He was a part-time deputy coroner in 1995 and 1996. Becoming coroner is a goal he's been preparing for, he said. He had to resign as a district paramedic supervisor with Charleston County EMS when he announced his candidacy in March. He'd been a paramedic with the county for 17 years.

"I will bring strong leadership skills to the office, as well as a strong desire to serve," he said.

Dunlap and Wooten have both sought careers in public service.

Wooten was a longtime registered nurse when she joined the Coroner's Office in 1995. She supervises five deputy coroners and two support staff members and manages a budget of about $1 million.

She refers to herself as a fiscal conservative and said she has not asked for more funding or personnel, though she anticipates a need one day for more investigators and larger work space.

"My signs say, 'experience matters,' and really, that's true," Wooten said.

Wooten said she is one of three individuals in South Carolina and 123 in the nation to receive certification from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.

The Post and Courier

Rae Howell Wooten

Rae Howell Wooten

Birthdate: Sept. 6, 1947

Family: Children Elizabeth Wooten Burwell, Durrette Wooten and Caroline Wooten

Education: Bachelor of science in nursing from the University of South Carolina; graduate courses and hours in the criminal justice program at Trident Technical College

Occupation: Charleston County Coroner

Previous elected office: None

Why are you running for office?: "Obviously you would want someone in this position who is experienced and compassionate. It's rewarding in terms of serving people who have terrible loss in their lives and it is something I'd like to continue doing."

What's the toughest issue facing the coroner's office?: "The demands on the coroner's office as the population grows and society becomes more mobile and there's more violence and dysfunction."

The Post and Courier

Robert Leon Dunlap Jr.

Robert Leon Dunlap Jr.

Birthdate: March 30, 1970

Family: Parents Robert L. and Gloria Dunlap; daughter Morgan Strobel

Education: Bachelor of science in management from Southern Wesleyan University; associate degrees in criminal justice and nursing from Trident Technical College

Occupation: Registered nurse at East Cooper Regional Medical Center emergency room

Previous elected office: None

Why are you running for office?: "I'm looking to improve the relationship between all members of the death investigation process."

What's the toughest issue facing the coroner's office?: "One of the biggest challenges I see facing the coroner's office is a lack of community awareness of the roles and responsibilities of the coroner's office."

Reach Nita Birmingham at nbirmingham@postandcourier.com.