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Secretary of State candidate profile: Mark Hammond [The Island Packet (Hilton Head Island, S.C.)]
[October 25, 2014]

Secretary of State candidate profile: Mark Hammond [The Island Packet (Hilton Head Island, S.C.)]


(Island Packet (Hilton Head, SC) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 25--AUDIO -- Click here for a recording of Mark Hammond's Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette Editorial Board endorsement interview.

Age: 50 Political party: Republican Office: Secretary of State Number of years living in the district you seek to represent: lifelong South Carolinian Family: No answer provided Education: Dorman High School (1982); Newberry College (1986), bachelor's in political science; Clemson University (1988). master's in education Current occupation/employer: The people of the great state of South Carolina, Secretary of State Employment, military and volunteer history: Previous service as Spartanburg County Clerk of Court 1996-2002 Public offices held: Spartanburg County Clerk of Court Unsuccessful bids for public office: None Other prior political and government experience: Spartanburg County Clerk of Court Key endorsements you've received: S.C. Realtors Campaign contributions: $24,286.30 Campaign expenditures: $17,368.72 Biggest contributor: S.C. Realtor Association, Rick Elliott; $3,500 each Why should people vote for you? I have served as Secretary of State since being elected in 2002. It has been a great honor to serve my state in this capacity for the last 12 years, and I look forward to continuing my service. I will continue to push for efficiency and transparency for all South Carolinians. I will continue to fight for us to be on the cutting edge of technology to serve businesses like our S.C. Business One Stop system. As the administrator of the S.C. Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act, I will continue to fight to protect South Carolinians, who are among the most charitable Americans, so they know when they are giving graciously they are not being of unfairly taken advantage of.



What are the three most important issues you would address if elected? While serving as your Secretary of State, we have been able to increase the numbers of operations that may be performed online through the Secretary of State's website, in addition to making it easier for you to see who is serving our state through boards and commissions, information that is now available online for the first time ever. This database is exceeding the state requirement by being updated daily, well above the state minimum requirement of twice per year. We've also worked to make our state a safer place to contribute to charities in addition to revising the standards required for a person to serve as a notary public and witness the signatures of South Carolinians on necessary documents.

What other issues do you see as important? No answer provided.What specific steps will you take to make government more open and accessible to the public? I will continue to improve and increase the numbers of operations that may be performed online through the Secretary of State's office, just as I have over the course of my service since being elected in 2002.


Have you ever been convicted of a felony, been disciplined by a professional licensing board or organization or had an ethics violation filed against you? No.

Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, been delinquent on your federal, state or local taxes? If so, please give the details. No.

Are there any personal details about yourself that voters would be interested in knowing? I am a lifelong South Carolinian, who greatly appreciates all the opportunities this state has given me. In 1981 I first represented this state in the Shrine Bowl, never dreaming that someday I would represent this state again as a statewide elected official. With teamwork, we will ensure this state continues to be business-friendly, protect charitable donors and prosper.

___ (c)2014 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) Visit The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.) at www.islandpacket.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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