With one hand on a bible and his wife at his side, Rodney Berry became Marion's 22nd mayor on Monday, but the woman he defeated refuses to back off from allegations of election fraud.

When Berry handily beat Nancy Harrelson in last week's mayoral election, Harrelson began calling foul and insists Berry's road to victory is stained.

She claims people were paid for their votes and that poll watchers violated state voting requirements, but Mayor Berry says the accusations are symptoms of a sore loser.

"This will be the first negative thing I've said about my opponent, but I just think it was poor sportsmanship on their side, and when it was a 2-1 margin I think they started grasping for straws," Berry said after his swearing-in Monday.

Harrelson filed a formal complaint Monday morning with the Marion County Board of Elections. The board fowarded the complaint to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, though SLED was unable to confirm receipt of the complaint late Monday afternoon.

Captain Ken McKenzie with SLED said if the agency receives the complaint, they will review it, but that doesn't mean they will investigate.

In the complaint letter, obtained by NewsChannel 15, Harrelson writes, "My objective is not to overthrow this election; however, I do want to ensure that all rules and regulations were adhered to. ..."

She said rumors of vote-buying swirled but that the "rumors became reality when some citizens of Marion ... stepped forward with sworn, signed affidavits attesting to the fact that they were paid for their vote and/or they were paid to secure addition votes through payment."

Harrelson never names anyone and despite repeatedly promising to produce these witnesses to NewsChannel 15, she has not done so.

"It's a shame that it stooped to the levels it did because the City of Marion does not deserve that," Berry continued, and when asked if he was aware of vote buying he said, "absolutely none to my knowledge. I did not participate, engage or authorize any."

Berry said he welcomes an investigation because he's confident he did nothing wrong. When asked if he would step down should the allegations prove true, Berry said he would not.

"I certainly wouldn't resign because again, without my knowledge, that would have took place. So I would just abide by whatever the law officer would ask me to abide by," said Berry.

Betsy Atkinson was also sworn in Monday as the newest member of the Marion City Council.