July 29, 2015

Hillary for SC Kicks Off South Carolina “Mayors for Hillary”

Columbia, SC — Less than a week after Hillary Clinton’s Mayors Summit in West Columbia, Mayors from across South Carolina launched “Mayors for Hillary.” The endorsements come from Mayors of Columbia, Lake City, Orangeburg, Johnston, Awendaw, Holly Hill, Manning, and Anderson. They praised Clinton’s economic vision and willingness to fight for smart investments in both small and large cities along with plans to fight systemic racism and fight for criminal justice reform including 21st century policing.

As Clinton said at the Mayors Summit in West Columbia last week, mayors are “on the front lines helping to bring people together” to solve problems and “mayors are delivering results with what President Franklin Roosevelt called, ‘bold and persistent experimentation.’”

“Hillary acts like a good mayor — she innovates, improvises and solves problems. As a friend and partner to our nation’s Mayors, Hillary will work closely with our cities to tackle tough issues. She will fight everyday to listen and come up with solutions for our cities and states on issues like raising wages for working Americans, reducing racial disparities in our prisons, and providing quality, affordable healthcare to our residents,” said Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia and President of the African American Mayors Association.

“Hillary Clinton understands the challenges and inequalities facing our cities and communities and most importantly, she’s ready to act. She showed a lot of gumption by talking about the hard truths we have to face on race and justice in America. We need her to continue and build on President Obama’s priorities of revitalizing our communities and improving educational opportunities,” said Mayor Lovith Anderson of Lake City and President of the South Carolina Conference of Black Mayors.

“Orangeburg needs a partner like Hillary Clinton in the White House who will fight for investments in infrastructure, education and healthcare. She cares about our community and ensuring the everyday Americans will have a better future. Our city’s priorities are Hillary’s priorities whether its championing economic development, providing a quality affordable education to our children and students or promoting an educated workforce,” said Mayor Michael C. Butler of Orangeburg.

“As we’ve seen in Columbia, good things happen when government and business collaborate, which is why we need an ally in the White House that will keep a laser focus on jobs, small businesses and economic development. In partnership with our Mayors, Hillary Clinton will work with cities both large and small to innovate and grow our economy,”said Former Mayor Bob Coble of Columbia.

“In my opinion Hillary Clinton is all about fixing rural communities and helping put people back to work. Her plans don’t stop at just repairing roads and bridges. But her plans include modernizing infrastructure. In areas like water, sewer, and broadband access. Changes like that will boost employment, and entrepreneurship in small towns like Johnston. We need this type of tenacity in our next President,” said Mayor Terrence Culbreath of Johnston.

“In rural communities across South Carolina, our water infrastructure is in dire need of repair. More than one third of Awendaw’s population doesn’t have regular access to safe drinking water. Hillary will be a President for all Americans, rural and urban, fighting for every community to have clean water,” said Mayor Miriam Green of Awendaw.

“While many candidates have refused to talk about systemic inequality and 21st century policing, Hillary Clinton continues to listen and stands ready to address police brutality and criminal justice reform as well as creating a pipeline to opportunity — not prison. She would continue to promote important programs like President Obama’s ‘My Brothers’ Keeper’ which helps young people meet their potential by bringing together smart partnerships in communities,” said Mayor William Johnson of Holly Hill

“Our next President must focus on all of our communities, big and small, and I know that Hillary’s plans for rural communities will help cities and towns like Manning. Her plan to create an infrastructure bank will provide much-needed investments and ensure we have water, sewer and broadband systems,” said Mayor Julia Nelson of Manning.

“Hillary Clinton understands the importance of economic development in our cities and towns. As President, Hillary will be a champion for innovative collaboration between government and businesses. These public-private partnerships are key in creating good paying jobs and unlocking the potential of all of South Carolina’s communities,” said Mayor Terence Roberts of Anderson.

Mayors are an important partner in Clinton’s campaign in South Carolina and will serve as part of the neighborhood organizing teams to get out the vote, register voters, and participate in phone banks and other grassroots events. Supporters and volunteers on the campaign have contacted 50,000 of their neighbors and 6,800 South Carolinians have filled out a card committing to vote for Hillary.

###
For Immediate Release, July 29, 2015

Ed. note:
On Oct. 20 the campaign announced support of over 50 African American mayors from around the county.  About half, 26, were from South Carolina.


·         Michael Aiken, Mayor of Vance, SC
·         Lovith Anderson, Mayor of Lake City, SC
·         Stephen Benjamin, Mayor of Columbia, SC
·         Alexander Boyd, Mayor of Bishopville, SC
·         Michael Butler, Mayor of Orangeburg, SC
·         Blain Crosby, Mayor of Bamberg, SC
·         Terrence Culbreath, Mayor of Johnston, SC
·         Bobby Davis, Mayor of Marion, SC
·         Charles Duberry, Mayor of Lincolnville, SC
·         Vernon Dunbar, Mayor of New Ellenton, SC
·         Rodney Giles, Mayor of Andrews, SC
·         Gregrey Ginyard, Mayor of Jenkinsville, SC
·         Marion Glenn, Mayor of Bowman, SC
·         Miriam Green, Mayor of Awendaw, SC
·         Barbara Hopkins, Mayor of Sellers, SC
·         Jefferson Johnson, Mayor of Eutawville, SC
·         William Johnson, Mayor of Holly Hill, SC
·         Glenn Miller, Mayor of Branchville, SC
·         Samuel Murray, Mayor of Port Royal, SC
·         Julia   Nelson, Mayor of Manning, SC
·         Jesse Parker, Mayor of Greeleyville, SC
·         Terence Roberts, Mayor of Anderson, SC
·         Geraldene Robinson, Mayor of Eastover, SC
·         Anderson Taylor, Mayor of Estill, SC
·         Harold Thompson, Mayor of Union, SC
·         Patricia Watson, Mayor of Wellford, SC
·         James Williams, Mayor of Ridgeville, SC