Women Across South Carolina Endorse James Smith for Governor
Friday, November 17th, 2017
James Smith for South Carolina launched the "Women for James Smith" organization, led by a leadership committee of several hundred women representing every county in South Carolina. This group of women includes current and former members of the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate, US Congress, a former South Carolina First Lady, locally elected officials, party officials, business leaders and community leaders.
The leadership committee released the following joint statement at the launch of the group:
"Women make up more than half of South Carolina’s population. They bring home most or all the income for two-thirds of families in our state. And they are more than half of the voting population. In other words, women work for South Carolina. But South Carolina does not yet work for women. We aim to change that, and James Smith does too. We're excited to work to elect him as our next Governor."
Members of the group, called Women for James Smith, include all ages, all colors and all political persuasions. They have come together in their support of James Smith because he has pledged to lower barriers to equality and support efforts to increase women's participation in all aspects of our state. They say his record of working across party lines proves his ability to build consensus. The group also launched a Facebook group, which already includes nearly 6,000 members.
James Smith said of the group:
"Women are underrepresented in positions of leadership — in board rooms, in the State House, even in houses of worship. Our state's prosperity and progress are stunted by gender inequality. I wish to serve as a Governor for everyone in this state, and that includes South Carolina's women who make this a great place to live and work. I'm ready to work with this group and women across the state to make progress on these issues."
Some members of the leadership committee include:
Jennet Robinson Alterman, former director, Center for Women, Charleston
Beth Bernstein, attorney and member of SC House of Representatives, Richland
Wendy Brawley, publisher and member of the SC House of Representatives, Richland
Margie Bright-Matthews, member of SC Senate, Charleston
M. Malissa Burnette, attorney and activist, Richland
Colleen Condon, attorney and former member of Charleston County Council
Heidi Darr-Hope, artist and founder of Healing Icons, Richland
MaryGail Douglas, member of SC House of Representatives, Fairfield
Carol Fowler, former Chair, SCDP, Richland
Laurie Funderburk, member of SC House of Representatives, Kershaw
Amy Hayes, former member of York County Democratic Party, York
Pat Henagan, member of SC House of Representatives, Chesterfield, Darlington, Marlboro
Rachel Hodges, former First Lady of South Carolina, Richland
Sally P. Howard, community activist, Horry
Tameika Isaac Devine, attorney and member of Columbia City Council, Richland
Beatrice King, member Richland One School Board, Richland
Kaye Koonce, Former 1st Vice-Chair, South Carolina Democratic Party, Charleston
Mia McLeod, communications consultant, member, South Carolina Senate, Richland
Bryanta Maxwell, marketing and political activist, Richland
Rosalyn Henderson Myers, member of SC House of Representatives, Spartanburg
Liz Patterson, former member of US Congress, Spartanburg
Anne Wolfe Postic, writer, Richland
Mandy Powers Norrell, member SC House of Representatives, Lancaster
Dorothy Priester, Cherokee County First Steps, Spartanburg, Cherokee
Barbara Rackes, Internet communications, community activist, Richland
Marie-Louise Ramsdale, attorney, Charleston
Sue Rex, member Winthrop Foundation Trustees, Fairfield
Betty Jo Rhea, former mayor of Rock Hill, York
Beth Richardson, attorney, Richland
Amy Sheheen, artist, Kershaw
JoAnn Sheler, Orangeburg
Linda Short, former SC Senator, York
Nekki Shutt, attorney, Richland
Eve Moredock Stacey, attorney and community leader, Richland
Anne Sinclair, non-profit organization consultant and former member Columbia City Council, Richland
Lindsay Stuber, Historic Rock Hill, York
Candy Waites, Seniors On the Move and former member SC House of Representatives, Richland
Samantha Wallace, Greenville
Melissa W. Watson, former 2nd Vice Chair, South Carolina Democratic Party, Berkeley
Lindsay Webster, Greenville
Rochelle Williams, Spartanburg