Vincent Austin Sheheen (born April 29, 1971) is an American
attorney
Attorney may refer to:
* Lawyer
** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions
* Attorney, one who has power of attorney
* ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film
See also
* Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...
and
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
. He was a member of 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 ...
from 2004 to 2020, representing the 27th District, which comprises
Chesterfield
Chesterfield may refer to:
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* Rural Municipality of Chesterfield No. 261, Saskatchewan
* Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut United Kingdom
* Chesterfield, Derbyshire, a market town in England
** Chesterfield (UK Parliament constitue ...
,
Kershaw, and
Lancaster counties. He is a member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
. He was a member of the
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections.
Unlike many legislatures, seati ...
from 2001 to 2004. He ran for
Governor of South Carolina
The governor of South Carolina is the head of government of South Carolina. The governor is the '' ex officio'' commander-in-chief of the National Guard when not called into federal service. The governor's responsibilities include making year ...
twice, in
2010
File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
and
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
, losing both times to
Nikki Haley
Nimrata Nikki Haley (née Randhawa; born January 20, 1972) is an American diplomat and politician who served as the 116th and first female governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, and as the 29th United States ambassador to the United Na ...
.
In 2020, Sheheen lost reelection to Republican Penry Gustafson, who won by two percentage points.
Sheheen, who is of
Lebanese descent, is currently on the board of trustees for In Defense of Christians (IDC), a nonprofit advocating for the rights of
Christians in the Middle East
Christianity, which originated in the Middle East during the 1st century AD, is a significant minority religion within the region, characterized by the diversity of its beliefs and traditions, compared to Christianity in other parts of the ...
.
Background
Vincent Sheheen was born and raised in
Camden,
South Carolina
)''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
. His father, Fred Sheheen, was the former executive director of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. His mother is Italian.
His uncle
Robert Sheheen
Robert Joseph Sheheen (born January 21, 1943) is an American lawyer and politician. A Democrat, Sheheen served as Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1986 to 1994. Sheheen was the first Lebanese-American to serve in the p ...
was the former Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, becoming the first Lebanese speaker of the house in 1986. His great-grandfather Abraham Sheheen immigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon, and his great-grandmother was also Lebanese.
Sheheen received a bachelor's degree from
Clemson University
Clemson University () is a public land-grant research university in Clemson, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Clemson is the second-largest university in the student population in South Carolina. For the fall 2019 semester, the university enro ...
, where he met his wife, Amy. Later he attended law school at the
University of South Carolina. They have three sons, Anthony and twins Austin and Joseph. Sheheen served as a city prosecutor before being elected to public office and was named, "Legislator of the Year" by the South Carolina Solicitor's Association for his work on behalf of law enforcement.
South Carolina legislature
While serving in the
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections.
Unlike many legislatures, seati ...
, Sheheen worked to create a conservation
land bank that has preserved thousands of acres in South Carolina.
After Republican Governor
Mark Sanford
Marshall Clement "Mark" Sanford Jr. (born May 28, 1960) is an American politician and author who served as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district from 1995 to 2001 and again from 2013 to 2019, and also as the ...
announced that he would reject stimulus money for South Carolina, Sheheen helped lead an effort 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 ...
to bypass the governor and claim about $700 million in stimulus funds.
He is pushing a bi-partisan ethics reform package which would require former legislators to wait eight years before they can register as lobbyists.
Sheheen is the author of the book ''The Right Way: Getting the Palmetto State Back on Track''.
University instructor
Adjunct instructor (2017–current)
University of South Carolina Honors College
Adjunct instructor (1998–2002)
University of South Carolina School of Law
The University of South Carolina School of Law, also known as South Carolina Law School, is a professional school within the University of South Carolina. The school of law was founded in 1867, and remains the only public and non-profit law schoo ...
Guest lecturer (2004–2016)
Francis Marion University Non-Profit Institute
Candidacies for Governor of South Carolina
2010
Sheheen announced his intention to run for
governor of South Carolina
The governor of South Carolina is the head of government of South Carolina. The governor is the '' ex officio'' commander-in-chief of the National Guard when not called into federal service. The governor's responsibilities include making year ...
with the Democratic party on February 6, 2009. On June 8, 2010, Sheheen won the primary over State Superintendent
Jim Rex
Jim Rex (born November 21, 1941 in Toledo, Ohio) was the 16th South Carolina Superintendent of Education. He ran for the position in 2006 as a South Carolina Democratic Party, Democrat, against Karen Floyd, a South Carolina Republican Party, Repu ...
, and was the party's nominee for governor in the November general election. He lost in the general election to the Republican party's nominee, State Representative
Nikki Haley
Nimrata Nikki Haley (née Randhawa; born January 20, 1972) is an American diplomat and politician who served as the 116th and first female governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, and as the 29th United States ambassador to the United Na ...
, by a margin 51% to 47%.
2014
Sheheen announced his intention for a second run for governor in 2014.
He ran lost to Haley again in 2014, as she won 55 percent of the vote to his 41 percent.
Introduced legislation passed into law
Listed are some notable pieces of legislation sponsered by States Senator Sheheen, full information and bill lookup can be found on hi
legislative portal
H4453 – Revising Life Expectancy Tables
H4575 – Requiring Notice of Rule to Show Cause to be served in Family Court cases
H4132 – Creating Lake Wateree Marine Commission
H3528 – Creating fetal death certificates upon request of parent
S596 – Allowing generation of electronic traffic tickets in South Carolina
S680 – Allowing automatic dispensing of fuel at gas stations in South Carolina
S800 – Increasing fines for failure to restrain children in motor vehicles
S1163 – Restricting successor asbestos-related liability for innocent purchasers
S1346 – Requiring notice to the public before construction of sludge storage facilities
S96 – Banning the sale of aerosol machines to liquefy and inhale alcoholic beverages
S99 – Requiring the State Election Commission to conduct Presidential Primaries in S.C.
S549 – Creating the Jessica Horton Act to require SLED to investigate campus deaths
S577 – Increasing fines for assault and battery against sports officials
S126 – Reforming laws regulating handicap parking and stopping abuse
S134 – Protecting students in exercise of religious freedom at public schools
S629 – Adjusting dates for teacher contracts
S459 – Banning texting while driving in South Carolina
S426 – Creating mental health courts in South Carolina
S980 – Reforming veterinary regulations and small animal laws
S1233 – Adjusting counties' abilities to issue capital improvements sales and use taxes
S173 – Requiring mental health crisis training for law enforcement officers
S302 – Allowing marching band credits to meet required physical education mandates
S567 – Allowing high speed go cart racing in South Carolina
S796 – Creating the Sestercentennial Commission to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the USA
Awards
Outstanding Public Official, Friends of S.C. Libraries, 2018
Live United Award; United Way of S.C., 2018
Legislative Champion; S.C. Alliance to Fix our Roads, 2017
Legislator of Year; National Alliance on Mental Health Illness, 2017
Legislator of Year; S.C. African American History Comm., 2017
Humane Legislator Award; S.C. Humane Society, 2017
Children's Champion Award; Save the Children, 2017
Citizen of the Year; Omega Fraternity, 2015
Honorary Future Farmers of America Degree; FFA Assoc., 2015
Man of the Year; Allen Univ. Alumni Assoc., 2014
Career Tech. Award; S.C. Assoc. of School Administration Officials, 2013
Friend of Gifted Education Award; S.C. Consortium for Gifted Education, 2013
Policy Maker of the Year; S.C. Career and Tech. Ed. Assoc., 2013
Legislator of Year; S.C. Rural Water Assoc., 2012
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Award; Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 2009, 2012
Community Health Center Champion Award; S.C. Primary Health Care Assoc., 2012
12 State Legislators to Watch; Governing Magazine, 2012
Green Tie Award; Conservation Voters of S.C., 2011
Appreciation Award; National Wild Turkey Fed. S.C., 2011
Recipient, Political Courage Award; Kershaw County NAACP, 2011
S.C. Tobacco Use Prevention Award; S.C. Collaboration for Reducing Tobacco, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr. Award; Kershaw County American Cancer Society, 2010
Legislator of Year; S.C. Farm Bureau, 2009
Legislator of the Year; S.C. Recreation and Parks Assoc., 2008
Sportsman of the Year; Assoc. S.C. Field Trial Clubs, 2007
Legislator of the Year; S.C. Solicitors Assoc., 2007
Conservation Champion Award; Conservation Votes of S.C., 2006
Hammer and Trowel Award; Homebuilders of S.C., 2004
U.S. District Court Resolution of Distinguished Service; U.S. District Court, 1998
Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award; U.S.C. School of Law, 1994
Thomas Arkle Clark Award; Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, 1992
Political positions
Sheheen has an important figure in developing and enacting transformative change in South Carolina, both before and after serving in elected office.
Retiring the Confederate flag
In 2014, Sheheen spent months touring the state and speaking to thousands of citizens. Because of the growing divide he saw and experienced, Sheheen made retiring of the Flag from the State House grounds a centerpiece of his campaign for governor. Not long thereafter, Sheheen's seatmate in the Senate, Pastor
Clementa Pinckney
Clementa Carlos "Clem" Pinckney (July 30, 1973 – June 17, 2015) was an American politician and pastor who served as a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 45th District from 2000 until his death in 2015. He was ...
, was murdered in the
Charleston massacre
On June 17, 2015, a mass shooting occurred in Charleston, South Carolina, in which nine African Americans were killed during a Bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Among those people who were killed was the senior past ...
by a
Confederate flag
The flags of the Confederate States of America have a history of three successive designs during the American Civil War. The flags were known as the "Stars and Bars", used from 1861 to 1863; the "Stainless Banner", used from 1863 to 1865; and ...
-wielding white supremacist. Although mourning the death of his friend, Sheheen quickly renewed his call for removal of the flag pushing other leaders in the state to do the same. Sheheen was responsible for drafting and introducing the legislation that removed the flag and spent weeks planning, cajoling, and creating the legislative plan that gained the necessary votes to remove the flag. The Confederate flag was retired from the State House grounds on July 10, 2015.
Government restructuring
For years, leaders and commentators had complained about South Carolina's antiquated state government structure. The chief complaint was the lodging of power in the legislatively controlled Budget and Control Board. The reality, however, was that state government operations were too often not adequately controlled by either the legislative or executive branches. Executive functions such as building and fleet management and I.T. were controlled by committee, and legislative oversight of state agencies did not exist. Change had been stymied by turf battles between governors and legislative leaders. Sheheen saw that improving government did not have to be a zero-sum game, so he introduced the Government Restructuring Act of 2014. The Act created a Department of Administration run by the Governor's appointee to handle truly administrative tasks. It abolished the Budget and Control Board and created a system of legislative oversight, ensuring that state agency operations will be reviewed by legislative committees to guard against mission creep, incompetence, and scandal. Sheheen worked tirelessly to bring Republican and Democratic leaders together to pass his Restructuring Act, and it became law in February 2014.
Bringing accountability to operations
For years, leaders in South Carolina faced accusations of "waste, fraud, and abuse" in state government. But little was done on an organizational level to confront these problems. Sheheen introduced legislation to create a South Carolina Inspector General's Office.
Working with Republican and Democratic co-sponsors and allies, the bill became law in 2012, and the Office of Inspector General has investigated and brought to light scores of problems in state government during the last seven years.
Pension reform and funding
In 2016, South Carolina's public pensions were in crisis. The pension's unfunded liability had reached an unsustainable level exceeding $22 billion dollars and the outlook was bleak. The leadership of the Senate asked Senator Sheheen to co-chair a joint Senate and House committee to study the state's pensions and develop solutions to the pending insolvency. Working with Representative Herbkershman, Sheheen developed a pension reform plan that changed the state's investment strategy, reformed the pensions' governance and operations, and responsibly invested millions of state dollars into drawing down the unfunded liability. These decisions were tough, but necessary. As a result, South Carolina's public pensions are on much firmer footing, paying down outstanding debt, reducing the long term amortization period, and investing more wisely for the future.
Expanding four-year-old kindergarten
South Carolina's state-funded, full-day kindergarten was created in 2006 as a result of the Abbeville lawsuit, covering only 3,241 students in poverty at a cost of $23 million dollars. Despite national research on the importance of early education, the program remained static for six years without educating any more than this small number of children. In 2013, Sheheen led an effort to expand four-year-old kindergarten (4K) to all at-risk children in the state. The effort successfully increased 4K coverage to 2,380 additional children in 17 new districts. In 2014, Sheheen built a coalition with the Majority Leader, Senator Peeler, to expand 4K and codify it into permanent law. That effort led to expansion covering 64 of the 82 school districts in the state with an additional 2,040 children served. From his role as chairman of the Education/Finance subcommittee, Sheheen has continued his push to expand 4K opportunities in South Carolina. The state currently serves approximately 12,000 four-year-olds living in poverty in 64 counties due to this investment of $82 million dollars annually.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act
For a generation, Higher Education in South Carolina has been de-prioritized by governors and legislative leaders. Beginning in 2017, Senator Sheheen brought together college presidents, students, legislative leaders, financial officers, and other state leaders to craft the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The Act was the focus of special hearings in the Senate in 2018 with a goal of passage in 2019. The Act would provide a much needed reinvestment in Higher Education in South Carolina, while making college more affordable and focusing on educating in-state students.
Funding roads and improving operations
South Carolina had not seen a major infusion of funding for roads since 1987, and the potholes and crumbling asphalt proved it. Many in South Carolina said this state of affairs would not change, but in 2017, President Pro Tem of the Senate, Hugh Leatherman, tasked Sheheen with leading a committee to push through a road funding bill. Sheheen spent countless hours building support for a multipronged effort that reformed the governance and operations of road administration, increased the gas tax, and made the overall tax code fairer in South Carolina. The bill was backed by Republicans and Democrats. Working closely with House Speaker Jay Lucas, Sheheen pushed through the bill with enough votes to override a veto from the governor. South Carolina's roads will see an infusion of more than half a billion dollars per year in an effort to responsibly make them better.
Electoral History
State Senate
2010 South Carolina Gubernatorial election
2014 South Carolina Gubernatorial election
References
External links
*
Senator Vincent A. Sheheenat the
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and t ...
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheheen, Vincent
1971 births
20th-century American lawyers
21st-century American politicians
American prosecutors
City and town attorneys in the United States
Clemson University alumni
Living people
Democratic Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives
People from Camden, South Carolina
Democratic Party South Carolina state senators
University of South Carolina School of Law alumni