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Wendell Gilliard

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Wendell Gilliard
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 111th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2009
Preceded byFloyd Breeland
Personal details
Born (1954-07-01) July 1, 1954 (age 70)
Charleston, South Carolina
Political partyDemocratic
Children3 children, April Sinclair, Wendell G., and Keith Demon
Parent(s)William and Sinclair Gilliard
ResidenceCharleston, South Carolina
Alma materDeVry University
Occupationsteelworker, union official, politician

Wendell G. Gilliard (born July 1, 1954) is an American politician, steelworker, and union official. A Democrat, Gilliard serves as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 111th District (parts of Charleston County).

Early life

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Gilliard was born in Charleston, South Carolina. His father came from Marion, South Carolina, and worked at the Charleston Air Force Base. He has five siblings. Gilliard's mother died of an aneurysm when he was five years old.[1]

Gilliard grew up on the East Side of Charleston before moving to West Ashley at the age of seven.[1] He attended Burke High School and Rivers High School, graduating from Rivers in 1973. He then attended Bell and Howell School of Technology (now known as DeVry University).[1][2] He also attended the United Steelworkers of America program which was held on the campus of Tennessee State University.

Career

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Gilliard left Bell & Howell after three years to work in a retail store owned by his brother. When the store closed due to declining sales in 1981, Gilliard began to work as a plant operator for Mobil Chemical. He later worked for Rhodia.[1] In 1982, Gilliard was elected vice president of Local 863 of the United Steelworkers.[3] He later became its president.[4]

Political career

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Municipal Career

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1998

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1999

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2002

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  • He was unopposed in his bid for a second term in 2002.[2]

2003

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South Carolina House of Representatives

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2008

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2015

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2021

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  • In 2021, Gilliard proposed legislation that would allow for jailing hotel owners and landlords who fail to inform residents of past and present bed bug infestations. His legislation proposed 60 days jail time or fines of up to $300.[14]

2023

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  • Upon hearing of the Titan submersible implosion, he informed the public of his profound sadness mixed with gratitude for the US Military. He implored Governor Henry McMaster to fly the flags at half-staff to honor those who died.[15]
  • In August 2023, Gilliard reacted to the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission's decision to remove "no concealable weapons allowed" signs from Charleston area parks, controversially stating, "[w]hether they circumvented the law or not, it was with good intentions, nothing is wrong with that."[16]
  • In October 2023, when a Moms for Liberty-backed ouster succeeded in removing the first black Superintendent for the Charleston County School District, Gilliard accused the decision of being racially motivated and called for the Attorney General of South Carolina to investigate if discrimination-based state laws had been violated.[17]

2024

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  • In 2024, Gilliard renewed the push to make the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Bill into state law. This is the same legislation proposed in the wake the Charleston church massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. While it has previously passed the house, as of January 2024, it has never passed the South Carolina Senate.[18][19]
  • On March 28, 2024, Gilliard was in a serious car crash in Lexington County and was subsequently rushed to the hospital.[20][21]
  • In 2024, Gilliard was among the state legislators appointed to serve on the Robert Smalls Monument Commission.[22]

2013 US House of Representatives Special Election

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See 2013 United States House of Representatives elections

See 2013 South Carolina's 1st congressional district special election

Gilliard contemplated running in the special election for South Carolina's 1st congressional district,[23] which became vacant when Governor Nikki Haley appointed Representative Tim Scott to fill the United States Senate seat held by retiring Jim DeMint. Gilliard ultimate decided against the run.

2023 State Senate Election

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See: 2023 United States state legislative elections

On March 13, 2023, Gilliard announced his intention to run for the South Carolina Senate District 42 seat, vacated by Marlon Kimpson after his appointment to a role in the Biden administration. The seat was decided in a special election in 2023.[24][25] Endorsements that Gilliard received in his race for the Senate seat include Our Revolution, a group affiliated with US Senator Bernie Sanders, and Local 1442 of the International Longshoremen's Association.[26] He was also endorsed by Bakari Sellers.[27]

The Democratic Primary took place on September 5, and the special election took place on November 7.[28] Other candidates in the race were Democrats SC Rep. JA Moore and SC Rep. Deon Tedder, and Republican Rosa Kay. In the Democratic Primary unofficial results, Moore was bested by Gilliard and Tedder, who went on to a September 19 runoff.[29][30] Gilliard led the evening with close to 47% of the vote.[31]

On September 19, Tedder led the runoff by 11 votes, triggering a recount.[32] The recount was conducted and results certified by the Charleston County Board of Canvassers and the Dorchester County Voter Registration and Elections Office on September 21; later that day Tedder was declared the winner by the South Carolina State Election Commission.[33]

Office of the Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina

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On December 15, 2023, Charleston, South Carolina Mayor-Elect William S. Cogswell Jr., announced his appointment of senior staff. Gilliard was named special advisor, quality of life and community outreach.[34] He has stated his intentions to draw an annual salary for this position with the city while running for reelection in 2024.[35]

Personal life

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Gilliard has three children, two sons and one daughter.[1][36] He is divorced.[2]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e The Post and Courier - Google News Archive Search
  2. ^ a b c d The Post and Courier - Google News Archive Search
  3. ^ The News and Courier - Google News Archive Search
  4. ^ The News and Courier - Google News Archive Search
  5. ^ "JSOnline.com News Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. October 13, 1999. Retrieved January 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  6. ^ "Invocation By Atheist Prompts Walkout In Charleston Meeting". The Item. Associated Press. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  7. ^ The Post and Courier - Google News Archive Search
  8. ^ Conover, Dan (September 5, 2012). "In hindsight, maybe Wendell Gilliard was more than the 'bikini guy' | Features". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  9. ^ The Post and Courier - Google News Archive Search
  10. ^ The Post and Courier - Google News Archive Search
  11. ^ "Election Results". South Carolina State Election Commission. 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  12. ^ "Who's running in special election for SC Senate after Kimpson left for Biden administration?". Yahoo News. August 1, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  13. ^ Chappell, Bill (July 8, 2015). "S.C. House Votes To Remove Confederate Flag From Capitol Grounds". NPR. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  14. ^ "South Carolina lawmaker wants hotels, landlords to face jail time for not disclosing bed bugs". WSPA 7NEWS. December 29, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  15. ^ Kayanja, Ian (June 22, 2023). "Rep. Wendell Gilliard issues a statement following 'catastrophic implosion' of Titanic submersible". WCIV. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  16. ^ "Charleston County Parks removes 'no concealable weapons allowed' signs". August 29, 2023.
  17. ^ "Gilliard asks attorney general, state superintendent to investigate recent action by CCSD board". WCBD News 2. October 2, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  18. ^ "Representative Wendell Gilliard holds discussion on Hate Crimes Bill". WCBD News 2. January 20, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  19. ^ Owen, Courtney Rowles & Mike (December 21, 2023). "VOTE: Should South Carolina have a hate crime law?". WCIV. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  20. ^ "State Rep. Wendell Gilliard involved in car crash in Lexington County". WCBD News 2. March 27, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  21. ^ Sockol, Matthew (March 28, 2024). "State Rep. Wendell Gilliard injured following vehicle collision in Lexington County". WCIV. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  22. ^ Frazier, Herb (August 23, 2024). "S.C. forms Smalls Monument Commission". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  23. ^ "Several names crowding field for Rep. Scott's open seat - WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather". ABC News 4. December 18, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  24. ^ Sophie, Brams (March 13, 2023). "State Rep. Wendell Gilliard announces run for S.C. Senate seat". Counton2.com. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  25. ^ "State Rep. Tedder wins Democratic nomination for open South Carolina Senate seat by 11 votes". AP News. September 22, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  26. ^ "State Representative Wendell Gilliard Receives Endorsement from Local 1442 of the International Longshoremen's Association". The Holy Sinner. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  27. ^ VIDEO: Former Rep. Bakari Sellers endorses SC Senate candidate Wendell Gilliard. September 18, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via www.live5news.com.
  28. ^ "State Senate District 42 Special Election". South Carolina State Election Commission. June 21, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  29. ^ Kayanja, Ian (September 5, 2023). "SC Senate District 42 Democratic primary heads to run-off between Gilliard and Tedder". WCIV-TV. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  30. ^ Alexander Thompson, and Kenna Coe (September 5, 2023). "Gilliard, Tedder headed to runoff in Charleston-area state Senate primary". The Post and Courier. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  31. ^ "State Senate District 42 Primary Election Night Reporting". South Carolina State Election Commission. September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  32. ^ Renaud, Tim (September 19, 2023). "Deon Tedder leads SC Sen. District 42 runoff by 11 votes; recount likely". WCBD-TV. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  33. ^ Coe, Kenna (September 21, 2023). "Deon Tedder declared winner with 11-vote lead in Senate 42 Democratic primary runoff". The Post and Courier. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  34. ^ Kayanja, Ian (December 16, 2023). "Mayor-elect Cogswell announces diverse senior staff for Charleston leadership". WCIV-TV. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  35. ^ athompson@postandcourier.com, ALI ROCKETT and ALEXANDER THOMPSON arockett@postandcourier com (March 19, 2024). "Rep. Wendell Gilliard files for re-election while continuing $100K job with Charleston city". Post and Courier. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  36. ^ "Rep. Wendell G. Gilliard - South Carolina State House". South Carolina State House. South Carolina Legislative Services Agency. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
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