CHARLESTON STATE SENATOR SAYS HIS FAMILY COMES FIRST
|| By FITSNEWS || For the second time this month, a State Senator in no danger of losing their seat has abruptly announced their intention to step down when their current term is up.
Earlier this month it was Joel Lourie, son of former S.C. Senator majority leader Isadore Lourie. This time it’s Charleston’s Paul Thurmond – son of legendary U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond.
According to The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier, Thurmond will not seek election in the June 2016 “Republican” primary – ending his state legislative career after just three years.
That’s barely a blink of the eye compared to his father, who spent five years as a State Senator, four years as governor and forty-eight years as a United States Senator.
(And who received a posthumous endorsement from this website last fall).
In a statement to his hometown paper, the 39-year-old lawyer said the recent racially motivated church shooting at Mother Emanual AME church caused him to rethink his priorities in life.
“The events of the last few months, especially the tragedy that occurred in Charleston, have resulted in a considerable amount of thoughtful contemplation,” Thurmond said in the statement. “I have concluded that, at this time, I must look past my own desires and personal calling to public service and focus on the needs of my young family and my wife.”
Thurmond’s wife is expecting the couple’s fifth child in December.
S.C. Senate District 41 – represented for years by former Senate president Glenn McConnell – runs from James Island in Charleston County through parts of Dorchester County.
So … who will run for the seat?
S.C. Rep. Peter McCoy is reportedly taking a look at the seat, as is former S.C. Rep. Anne Peterson-Hutto. We suspect other names will emerge soon …
Of interest? Thurmond did not rule out a return to politics in the future …
9 comments
You also forgot that Strom Thurmond was a state Circuit Court judge.
And Major General, D Day veteran, Edgefield County Attorney, Teacher, Coach, Superintendent of Education and husband of “some fine lookin wimens”!
It use to be that our political offices drew the participation of our best and brightest, but now there are so many other opportunities in business, engineering and healthcare that few are interested. I see who is elected to city and county offices and recognize that they aren’t the leading lights of the community.
With the current state of compensation of office holders and campaign finance laws a wealthy individual can have more influence for good or bad in the private sector.
Thumper, let’s clarifiy that. “few can fford to make the sacrifice that non-corrupt poblic office entrail.” Lots of folks make the “saacrifice” to public life, with a slight corrupt bent and an extra $225,000 slid into their pockets or directed to their family “consulting” businesses. But I might add in this man’s case, he probably needs a few years of private practice to cover the cost of those 5 kids.
Subject/verb agreement – look it up.
It ain’t me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5CchLz45fw
Wonder what it would take to run about 40 more of them off?
Whatks the real reason? Maybe he has same problem his brother, Stom Jr had a few years back?
Thurmond is a thoughtful guy and would not let Leatherman push him around.
Glad he will be improving his life by leaving the Senate, but sad we are left with a bunch of cowards called the SC Senate.