Vincent A. Sheheen
Encyclopedia
Vincent Austin Sheheen (born April 29, 1971) is a Democratic
member of the South Carolina Senate
. Since 2004, he has represented the 27th District, comprising Chesterfield
, Kershaw, and Lancaster counties. He was previously a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from 2000 through 2004. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of South Carolina
, losing in a narrow election.
. He received a bachelor's degree from Clemson University
and later attended law school at the University of South Carolina
where he met his wife, Amy. They have three sons, twins Austin and Joseph, and Anthony. Sheheen served as a city prosecutor before being elected to public office. For his work on behalf of law enforcement, he has been named "Legislator of the Year" by the South Carolina Solicitor's Association.
While serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives
, Sheheen worked to create a conservation land bank
that has preserved thousands of acres in South Carolina. After Republican Governor Mark Sanford
announced that he would reject stimulus money for South Carolina, Sheheen helped lead an effort in the South Carolina Senate
to bypass the governor and claim about $700 million in stimulus funds.
with the Democratic party on February 6, 2009. On June 8, 2010, Sheheen won the primary over State Superintendent Jim Rex
and was the party's nominee for Governor in the November general election. He lost to the Republican party's nominee, State Representative Nikki Haley
by a margin 51% to 47%.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the South Carolina Senate
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...
. Since 2004, he has represented the 27th District, comprising Chesterfield
Chesterfield County, South Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,768 people, 16,557 households, and 11,705 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 18,818 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, Kershaw, and Lancaster counties. He was previously a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
from 2000 through 2004. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
, losing in a narrow election.
Background
Sheheen was born and raised in Camden, South CarolinaCamden, South Carolina
Camden is the fourth oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and is also the county seat of Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States. The population was an estimated 7,103 in 2009...
. He received a bachelor's degree 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....
and later attended law school at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
where he met his wife, Amy. They have three sons, twins Austin and Joseph, and Anthony. Sheheen served as a city prosecutor before being elected to public office. For his work on behalf of law enforcement, he has been named "Legislator of the Year" by the South Carolina Solicitor's Association.
While serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
, Sheheen worked to create a conservation land bank
Land banking
Land banking is the practice of purchasing raw land with the intent to hold on to it until such a time as it is profitable to sell it on to others for more than was initially paid...
that has preserved thousands of acres in South Carolina. After Republican Governor Mark Sanford
Mark Sanford
Marshall Clement "Mark" Sanford Jr. is an American politician from South Carolina, who was the 115th Governor of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011....
announced that he would reject stimulus money for South Carolina, Sheheen helped lead an effort in the South Carolina Senate
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...
to bypass the governor and claim about $700 million in stimulus funds.
2010 candidacy for Governor of South Carolina
Sheheen announced his intentions to run for Governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
with the Democratic party on February 6, 2009. On June 8, 2010, Sheheen won the primary over State Superintendent Jim Rex
Jim Rex
Jim Rex was the 16th South Carolina Superintendent of Education. He ran for the position in 2006 as a Democrat, against Karen Floyd, a Republican. Rex defeated Floyd by only 455 votes, the closest margin of victory in a statewide election in South Carolina's history...
and was the party's nominee for Governor in the November general election. He lost to the Republican party's nominee, State Representative Nikki Haley
Nikki Haley
Nimrata Nikki Randhawa Haley is the 116th and current Governor of South Carolina. A member of the Republican Party, Haley represented Lexington County in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010....
by a margin 51% to 47%.
External links
- Senator Vincent A. Sheheen official state legislature website
- Vincent Sheheen for Governor official campaign website