Vincent Sheheen’s South Carolina roots run deep. His family has lived in Camden, where Vincent was born and raised, for well over a century. Before his election to the state Senate in 2004, Vincent served as a city prosecutor and a state Representative. Now serving his second full term, Vincent represents Chesterfield, Kershaw, and Lancaster counties. He has become known in the Senate as an advocate for reforming and overhauling our state government.

Vincent met his wife, Amy, while both were students at Clemson University, and they were married while he was in law school at the University of South Carolina. Vincent and Amy live in Camden with their three sons, 13-year old twins Austin and Joseph and 8-year old Anthony, where Vincent practices in a small law firm. The boys attend the same public schools that their dad did over 25 years ago.

Vincent’s commitment to public education stems from the example set by his parents. His father was a small businessman who served as South Carolina’s Commissioner of Higher Education. His mother was an elementary school teacher in the Kershaw County public schools and later served as principal of Blaney Elementary School. It’s not surprising then that in the state legislature, Vincent has worked to improve South Carolina’s public schools through better teacher pay, more equitable school funding, and a return to the fundamentals in the classroom.

Vincent also developed his belief in the value of a strong work ethic from his family. At age 12 Vincent began working alongside his father, cleaning up the family printing store.

From his time as a public servant, Vincent knows that South Carolina’s state government is dysfunctional, which is why he has focused his efforts on restructuring and reforming it. He has pushed to overhaul our tax and budgeting systems, and was the lead sponsor of a bill to create an Inspector General to root out waste, fraud, and corruption. He has been a leader in the effort to make Columbia more efficient and more accountable, standing up to the status quo leadership.

This spring, Senator Sheheen led the effort to force Governor Sanford to accept South Carolina’s own tax dollars back into the state during the dispute over the federal stimulus. His “Stimulus Solution” plan devoted the money to schools and law enforcement – two critically underfunded areas – and ensured that the state would use the funds to keep paying our teachers and police officers.

As governor, Vincent’s top priority will be to grow our state’s stagnant economy and recruit companies and jobs here. Without good jobs, our citizens and state cannot succeed. Vincent will return to the hard work shown by leaders such as Governor Riley and Governor Campbell, serving as an economic ambassador for all of South Carolina. He is committed to working with firms around the country and around the world to create the environment needed for employers to relocate and expand their operations here in South Carolina. He will also establish a Small Business Division within the Commerce Department to focus solely on assisting and growing South Carolina’s crucial small businesses.

Vincent will also continue his efforts to reform South Carolina’s badly broken tax system – getting rid of the special interest loopholes that shift the tax burden onto the middle class and overhauling the system to make our state more competitive and encourage job growth.

Vincent is an active and dedicated member of his church. He has been a leader in his community, serving on numerous boards and nonprofit entities. Vincent is also active in the Camden Rotary Club, and volunteers in local elementary schools, reading to young students. He has been named “Legislator of the Year” by several groups, including the South Carolina Solicitor’s Association for his work on behalf of law enforcement, the Wild Turkey Federation for his efforts to protect our natural resources, and the Recreation and Parks Association for his work on behalf of South Carolina’s children.

Source: http://www.vincentsheheen.com/about-vincent

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