Hugh Leatherman

Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. (born April 14, 1931) is a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate, serving since 1981. The 31st District, which he currently represents, is anchored in Florence, South Carolina. He is often considered one of the most powerful people in South Carolina politics.[1]

Hugh Leatherman
President pro tempore of the South Carolina Senate
In office
January 25, 2017 – January 8, 2019
Preceded byKevin L. Bryant
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Harvey S. Peeler Jr. (as president)
In office
June 18, 2014 – January 23, 2017
Preceded byYancey McGill
Succeeded byKevin L. Bryant
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 31st district
Assumed office
January 14, 1981
Preceded byJohn Waller
Personal details
Born (1931-04-14) April 14, 1931
Lincoln County, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Jean
Children6
EducationNorth Carolina State University (BS)

He served as President Pro Tempore of the South Carolina Senate for all but one day from June 18, 2014 to January 8, 2019. The position was abolished and replaced with the President of the Senate. He was a member of the State Budget and Control Board until it was abolished in 2014. Leatherman currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and Vice Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.[2]

Early life

Leatherman was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina. He studied at North Carolina State University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. After graduation in 1953, Leatherman went to work at a concrete plant in Charlotte. In 1955, he formed his own concrete company with a business partner in Florence, South Carolina.[1]

Career

Leatherman began his political career after his election in 1967 to the Town Council in Quinby, South Carolina. He served as a Councilman until 1976. In 1981, he was elected to the South Carolina Senate as a Democrat.[1] In 1986 he ran for governor as a Democrat as well. He switched parties and became a Republican in 1994.[1]

In November 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Governor Nikki Haley to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. As President Pro Tempore, Leatherman would have been next in line to become Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina upon Haley's confirmation and the ascension of Henry McMaster to the governorship. Leatherman, however, stated that he would refuse the position.[3]

On January 24, 2017, when Haley was sworn in as U.N. Ambassador and McMaster became the 117th Governor of South Carolina, Leatherman resigned from his leadership position in the South Carolina Senate in order to avoid ascending to the Office of Lieutenant Governor.[4] He was succeeded as President Pro Tempore by Kevin L. Bryant, who then became the 92nd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.[5] The position of President Pro Tempore was then made vacant again.

On January 25, 2017, Leatherman was re-elected as President Pro Tempore on a 28–16 vote.[6]

In December 2018, it was announced that the position of President Pro Tempore would be abolished due to a constitutional change that removes the Lieutenant Governor as President of the Senate, and replaces the position of President Pro Tempore with a President elected from the Senate membership.[7]

References
  1. Avery G. Wilks and Stephen Hobbs (2020). "How Hugh Leatherman took control of South Carolina's budget and built a political empire". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  2. "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  3. "Hugh Leatherman will not take lieutenant governor job". Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  4. "Senate leader Leatherman resigns to avoid becoming lieutenant governor". thestate. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  5. Phillips, Jennifer. "South Carolina has a new Lt. Governor". Archived from the original on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  6. [email protected], Andrew Knittle. "Hugh Leatherman re-elected as president pro tem of S.C. Senate in close vote". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  7. "One of the most powerful jobs in SC government is going away". The State. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
South Carolina Senate
Preceded by
Yancey McGill		 President pro tempore of the South Carolina Senate
2014–2017		 Succeeded by
Kevin L. Bryant
Preceded by
Kevin L. Bryant		 President pro tempore of the South Carolina Senate
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Harvey S. Peeler Jr.
as President of the South Carolina Senate
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