Bill Whitmire
Bill Whitmire | |
|---|---|
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 1st district | |
| Assumed office 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Gresham Barrett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 24, 1948 Seneca, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kathy Lynn Pittard (m: July 26, 1972) |
| Children | Ashley Aven, Alayna Brianne, and Trevor Ramsey |
| Parent(s) | Ramsey and Marie Fagan Whitmire |
| Residence | Walhalla, South Carolina |
| Alma mater | Piedmont College |
| Occupation | Educator, farmer, politician |
William Whitmire (born August 24, 1948) is an American politician. He is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 1st District (parts of Oconee & Pickens Counties), serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Whitmire was born on August 24, 1948, to Ramsey and Marie Fagan Whitmire. He graduated from in 1972 Piedmont College with an A.B.[2]
Occupation
[edit]Whitmire is a retired educator in the School District of Oconee County. He was also a member of the United States Army Reserves from 1971 to 1977. He owns S&W Farms.[2][3]
Political career
[edit]City of Walhalla
[edit]Whitemire began his political career in Walhalla, serving on the Walhalla City Council and then as Mayor of Walhalla from 2000 to 2002.[2]
1st House District of South Carolina
[edit]As of 2024[update], Whitmire serves as Chair of the College and University Trustee Screening Commission, a Joint Committee with members from the House and Senate.[4]
2003
[edit]In 2003, he would be elected to the 1st House District of South Carolina, representing ports of Oconee and Pickens Counties.[2]
2016
[edit]In 2016, he ran uncontested for his seat.[5]
2022
[edit]Due to his role as Chair of the College and University Trustee Screening Commission, Whitmire led the Commission in 2022 when it debated firing the entire board of trustees for the University of South Carolina.[6] What started out during a meeting to review five board members, frustration at the mishandling of athletic funds[7] and the resignation of the president of the University[8] became a question of redesigning the board structure altogether.[9][6][10] Ultimately, the effort failed to pass before the end of the legislative session.[11]
2023
[edit]In 2023, Whitmire sponsored no legislation.[12] However, he and State Senator Thomas C. Alexander worked to get a $5.6M grant for Walhalla to build a community center placed in the 2023-24 South Carolina state budget signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster.[13]
He is a supporter of fetal heartbeat-based abortion prohibition, voting for the Fetal Heartbeat Act in 2022[14] and 2023.[15]
2024
[edit]See also: 2024 South Carolina elections, 2024 state legislature elections in the United States, South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2024 South Carolina House of Representatives election
In March 2024, Whitmire filed for re-election.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Whitmire is married to Kathy Lynn Pittard. They have 3 children.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "William Whitmire". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "South Carolina Legislature Online – Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
- ^ report, Staff. "2022 voter guide: Here are candidates running for SC House seats in Upstate". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "College and University Trustee Screening Commission". South Carolina Legislature. 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ "Uncontested races in South Carolina". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ a b "Bill to fire Univ. of SC trustees is on House's fast track". AP News. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "South Carolina fires football coach Will Muschamp". AP News. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Former Univ. of S. Carolina president regrets taking job". AP News. 2021-10-03. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Univ of SC trustees blistered for secret trip, coach buyouts". AP News. 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ ashain@postandcourier.com, Andy Shain (2022-04-18). "5 troubled USC trustees keeping their seats despite legislative panel's harsh criticism". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Frenetic last SC General Assembly day sees trustee bill fail". AP News. 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ Harris, Javon L. (August 18, 2023). "State House scorecard: Which SC lawmakers got the most bills turned into law this year?". The State. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ Cannada, Norm (2023-10-19). "Walhalla moving forward on $5M community center". upstatetoday.com. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Who voted for, against South Carolina's Fetal Heartbeat Act?". wcnc.com. 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Committee restores rape, incest exceptions to abortion bill". upstatetoday.com. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ Harris, Javon (March 26, 2024). "Who in the Upstate is running for the SC House in 2024?". The State Newspaper. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
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