Mark Hammond (politician)
Encyclopedia
Mark Hammond is an American
Republican
politician from South Carolina
. He is currently South Carolina Secretary of State.
, and grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina
. Following graduation from Dorman High School in Spartanburg, he attended Newberry College
, graduating with a B.A. in political science in 1986. Two years later, he earned an M.A. in education from Clemson University
. He began his professional career as a juvenile probation officer for the South Carolina Department of Youth Services. From 1990 to 1996, he served as a criminal investigator for the Spartanburg County, South Carolina-based 7th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office. In 1996, he was elected as Clerk of Courts for Spartanburg County, and was the first Republican to serve in that post since Reconstruction. He was elected to a second term in 2000.
He was re-elected in 2006, winning 61% of the vote, the largest margin of victory in a contested statewide election in South Carolina history.
In 2010, incumbent Mr. Hammond defeated his opponent with 60.9% of the vote.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He is currently South Carolina Secretary of State.
Early life and career
Mark Hammond was born in Lancaster, South CarolinaLancaster, South Carolina
Lancaster is a city in Lancaster County, South Carolina which is in the United States and is located 35 miles south of Charlotte, North Carolina and 20 miles east of Rock Hill, South Carolina. As of the United States Census of 2010, the city population was 10,160. It is the county seat of...
, and grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
. Following graduation from Dorman High School in Spartanburg, he attended Newberry College
Newberry College
Newberry College is a liberal-arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located on a historic campus in Newberry, South Carolina.The college has 1,025 students and a 19:1 student-teacher ratio...
, graduating with a B.A. in political science in 1986. Two years later, he earned an M.A. in education from Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
. He began his professional career as a juvenile probation officer for the South Carolina Department of Youth Services. From 1990 to 1996, he served as a criminal investigator for the Spartanburg County, South Carolina-based 7th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office. In 1996, he was elected as Clerk of Courts for Spartanburg County, and was the first Republican to serve in that post since Reconstruction. He was elected to a second term in 2000.
Secretary of State
In 2002, he was elected as South Carolina's 41st Secretary of State, after defeating two other candidates in the Republican primary, and winning over 600,000 votes in the general election.He was re-elected in 2006, winning 61% of the vote, the largest margin of victory in a contested statewide election in South Carolina history.
In 2010, incumbent Mr. Hammond defeated his opponent with 60.9% of the vote.