John L. Scott Jr. (October 21, 1953 – August 13, 2023) was an American politician who served as a member of the South Carolina Legislature from 1991 until his death. Scott was a small business owner in Columbia, South Carolina. Scott was a Democratic candidate for

Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina The lieutenant governor of South Carolina is the second-in-command to the governor of South Carolina. Beyond overseeing the Office on Aging and the responsibility to act or serve as governor in the event of the office's vacancy, the duties of th ...

in 2018.

Political career

Scott worked as a field representative for the Office of the Governor in 1975. From 1988 to 1990, he served as vice chair for Richland County Council.

1990 South Carolina House of Representatives campaign

With the 77th district seat vacated after

Operation Lost Trust Operation Lost Trust was the name of an FBI investigation into the South Carolina General Assembly from 1989 to 1999. By the end of the investigation, seventeen members of the South Carolina General Assembly were arrested for bribery, extortion, o ...

, a special election was held on December 4, 1990. Scott defeated Republican Mary Fitzpatrick, and was certified and sworn in as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in January 1991. He completed the remainder of the unexpired term and was elected unopposed to a full term in 1992.

2008 South Carolina Senate campaign

In 2008, Scott faced Vince Ford in the Democratic primary for South Carolina Senate Seat District 19. After the Primary, the State Board of Canvassers of the South Carolina State Election Commission ordered a recount, which took place on June 16, 2008. The recount gave Scott the primary victory. Scott went on to defeat

United Citizens Party The United Citizens Party (UCP) was first organized in 1969 in the U.S. state of South Carolina in response to the state Democratic Party's opposition to nominating black candidates. The party's objective was to elect blacks to the legislature a ...

candidate Chris Nelums in the general election, and represent the 19th district in the

South Carolina Senate The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives. It consists of 46 senators elected from single member districts for four-year terms at the sa ...

after the retirement of

Kay Patterson Kay Christine Lesley Patterson (born 21 November 1944) is a former Australian politician. She was a Liberal member of the Australian Senate from 1987 to 2008, representing the state of Victoria. Background and education Patterson was born in ...

. Scott served as a member of the College and University Trustee Screening Commission, a Joint Committee with members from the House and Senate. He served on the Senate Banking and Insurance; Education; Finance; Labor, Commerce and Industry; Legislative Oversight, and Medical Affairs Committees.

2012 South Carolina Senate campaign

In 2012, Scott had no primary opponent and won unopposed in the general election.

2014 United States Senate special election

In 2014, Scott considered running for the Democratic nomination in the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

special election for the seat held by Tim Scott, before ultimately declining.

2016 South Carolina Senate campaign

In 2016, Richland County Council Chairman Torrey Rush challenged Scott for the Senate seat. Scott won the Democratic primary with over 60% of the vote.

2018 Lieutenant Governor campaign

In 2018, Scott was selected to serve as running mate for the office of lieutenant governor, on a ticket with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Marguerite Willis. Scott and Willis were eliminated in the Democratic primary, losing to Rep. James E. Smith Jr., and running mate Rep.

Mandy Powers Norrell Mandy Powers Norrell (born July 12, 1973) is an American lawyer, politician and former Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Norrell formerly represented House District 44, which comprises the southern portion of Lanc ...

2020 South Carolina Senate campaign

In 2020, Scott had no primary opponent and won unopposed in the general election.

Honors and recognitions

In 2002, Scott was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor

Jim Hodges James Hovis Hodges (born November 19, 1956) is an American businessman, attorney, and politician who served as the 114th governor of South Carolina from 1999 to 2003. Since his victory in 1998, Hodges has remained the only Democrat elected to ...

. In 2019, Scott gave the Democratic response to the State of the State address. In 2020, Scott received an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from South Carolina State University. In 2021, Scott received a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Allen University and the Marion P. Carnell Award from the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association. In 2022,

Morris College Morris College (MC) is a private, Baptist historically black college in Sumter, South Carolina. It was founded and is operated by the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina. History Morris College was founded in 1908 ...

opened the John L. Scott Jr. Institute of Network Information Technology and Security Lab. Scott led the South Carolina Institutes for Innovation and Information, which supports the state's seven

historically black colleges and universities Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. ...

. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from

Voorhees University Voorhees University (formerly Voorhes College) is a private historically black university in Denmark, South Carolina. It is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. History In 18 ...

. In 2023, Scott was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina and "Columbia 50 Most Influential" by Columbia Business Monthly;

Death

Scott was hospitalized at the

Medical University of South Carolina The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is a public medical school in South Carolina. It opened in 1824 in Charleston as a small private college aimed at training physicians and has since established hospitals and medical facilities acr ...

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...

on August 11, 2023, and had previously dealt with blood clot issues. He died on August 13 at the age of 69. Governor Henry McMaster announced that flags would be lowered in the late Senator's honor. On August 17, 2023, Executive Order 2023-28 was filed for that purpose. South Carolina Senators in mourning 2023

South Carolina Senators in mourning 2023

A memorial service was held on August 19, 2023, at Bible Way Church of Atlas Road in Columbia. Over 1800 people attended, including Governor Henry McMaster, former governor Jim Hodges, Columbia Mayor

Daniel Rickenmann Daniel Rickenmann (born 1969/1970) is an American businessman and politician, serving as the Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina. Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, he is the son of immigrants from Switzerland. He attended the University of Sout ...

and Richland County Sheriff

Leon Lott Leon Lott (born 1953) is the commander of the South Carolina State Guard and the sheriff of Richland County, South Carolina. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Early life Lott was born in Aiken, South Carolina and attended Aiken High Sch ...

. Some of the dignitaries giving remarks included

President of the South Carolina Senate The president of the South Carolina Senate is the presiding officer of the body. The role of the president is to ensure that general order is maintained in the senate by recognizing members to speak, ensuring members are following established rule ...

Thomas C. Alexander Thomas C. Alexander (born July 25, 1956) is an American businessman who is currently serving as the President of the South Carolina Senate. He serves in the senate as a Republican from the 1st District. Alexander served as an honorary chair of t ...

, former representative

Jerry Govan Jr Jerry may refer to: Animals * Jerry (Grand National winner), racehorse, winner of the 1840 Grand National * Jerry (St Leger winner), racehorse, winner of 1824 St Leger Stakes Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Jerry'' (film), a 2006 Indian film ...

., Representative Leon Howard and deacon and retired University of South Carolina head

Track and Field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping events ...

coach Curtis Frye.

Special Election

A special election will be held later this year to fill Scott's unexpired term. On August 22, the Office of the President of the South Carolina Senate announced that the date of the special election would be January 2, 2024. Filing took place between September 1 and 9, 2023, with primaries held on October 24 and a run-off set for November 7. On the first day of filing, three candidates filed for the Democratic primary: former

South Carolina Democratic Party The South Carolina Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. History The Democratic Party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 ...

Black Caucus Chair Johnnie Cordero, State House of Representative member

Kambrell Garvin Kambrell Houston Garvin is an American injury attorney and politician from South Carolina. He serves as a Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing House District 77, Richland County, Columbia, SC. He was f ...

, and Broad River Business Alliance President Javar Juarez. At the close of the filing period, seven had filed to run, including Democratic Party candidate and City of

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

former Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine,

Independence Party Independence Party may refer to: Active parties Outside United States * Independence Party (Egypt) * Estonian Independence Party * Independence Party (Finland) * Independence Party (Iceland) * Independence Party (Mauritius) * Independence Part ...

candidate Michael A. Addison, United Citizens Party candidate Chris Nelums, and Republican Party candidate Kizzy Smalls. On October 24, Isaac Devine won the Democratic primary, and will face Addison, Nelums and Smalls for the January 2024 special election.Mayra Parrilla-Guerrero, Ashley Jones and, Maggie Brown (October 24, 2023). "Tameika Isaac Devine projected winner of SC Senate District 19 primary". ''WISTV''. Retrieved October 24, 2023.

References

External links

South Carolina Legislature Online

The Voter's Self Defense System
*
South Carolina State of the State 2019 address, with Democratic response from Senator John Scott
on

South Carolina Educational Television South Carolina Educational Television (branded as South Carolina ETV, SCETV or simply ETV) is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member television stations serving the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is owned and operated by ...

SC state Senator John Scott (D-Richland) on the credit union difference, SB 418
by Carolinas Credit Union League, February 2019
Interview
on Quinton's Close-ups, May 2018
Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Marguerite Willis announces Senator John Scott as running mate
on

, March 2018.
Senator Scott State House Report
on Carolina Panorama newspaper, December 9, 2020
Senator Scott at Ribbon Cutting for Richland County Magistrate Office
on

Richland County, South Carolina Richland County is located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 416,147, making it the second-most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville County. The county seat and largest city is ...

, February 2020
South Carolina HBCU Institutes of Innovation and Information FoundationExecutive Order 2023-28 - Lowering of Flags for Senator John L. Scott Jr.Home Going Services: Celebrating the Life of the Honorable Senator John Lee Scott Jr
August 19, 2023
South Carolina State Senator John Scott remembered during Saturday Memorial Service
on

WLTX-TV WLTX (channel 19) is a television station in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, affiliated with CBS. Owned by Tegna Inc., the station maintains studios on Garners Ferry Road (US 76– 378) in southeastern Columbia, and its transmitter is l ...

August 19, 2023 , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Scott Jr., John L. 1953 births 2023 deaths 20th-century African-American politicians 20th-century American politicians 21st-century African-American politicians 21st-century American politicians African-American state legislators in South Carolina Candidates in the 2018 United States elections Democratic Party South Carolina state senators Democratic Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives Politicians from Columbia, South Carolina South Carolina State University alumni