Jim Hodges | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 114thGovernor of South Carolina | |
| In office January 13, 1999 – January 15, 2003 | |
| Lieutenant | Bob Peeler |
| Preceded by | David Beasley |
| Succeeded by | Mark Sanford |
| Member of theSouth Carolina House of Representatives from the 45th district | |
| In office December 2, 1986 – December 5, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Gibson Mangum |
| Succeeded by | Eldridge Emory |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Hovis Hodges (1956-11-19)November 19, 1956 (age 68) Lancaster, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Rachel Gardner |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina (BSBA,JD) |
James Hovis Hodges (born November 19, 1956)[1] is an American businessman, attorney, and politician who served as the114th governor of South Carolina from 1999 to 2003. A former member of theSouth Carolina House of Representatives, Hodges is the most recentDemocrat to serve as the state's governor.
James Hovis Hodges was born on November 19, 1956, to parents George N. and Betty H. Hodges.[1][citation needed] He grew up inLancaster, South Carolina, near theNorth Carolina border. He attendedDavidson College but later transferred to theUniversity of South Carolina, where he completed aBSBA in 1979 and earned election toPhi Beta Kappa.[2] During his undergraduate studies, Hodges worked summers at a cotton mill to pay for his schooling.[3]
In 1982, Hodges received aJ.D. from theUniversity of South Carolina School of Law.[3] From 1983 to 1986, Hodges served as Lancaster County Attorney.[4]
At age 30, Hodges first won an election in a December 1986 special election for the 45th district seat in theSouth Carolina House of Representatives vacated by the late Tom Mangum.[5] While in the House, Hodges served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee from 1992 until 1994 and as House Democratic Leader from 1995 until 1997.[3]
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce named Hodges "Legislator of the Year" in 1993, and theNational Federation of Independent Business bestowed Hodges with its "Guardian of Small Business" award.[6]
While serving in the state legislature, Hodges also worked as general counsel for The Springs Company.[6]
Hodges entered the 1998 gubernatorial election in South Carolina an underdog but took advantage of controversy and missteps by incumbent Republican governorDavid Beasley, namely Beasley's indecisiveness on allowing aConfederate flag to fly at the state capitol and call to eliminatevideo poker.[7] Donations from video gambling interests helped Hodges narrow a near million-dollar fundraising gap with Beasley.[8]
In what was reported as an upset victory,[9] Hodges won the gubernatorial race by a 8% margin and won 35 of 46 counties.[10] Hodges became the first challenger to defeat a sitting governor since the South Carolina constitution first allowed consecutive terms in 1980.[11][12]
As South Carolina's 114th governor, Hodges signed a law that madeMartin Luther King, Jr. Day an official state holiday; South Carolina was the last state in the U.S. to do so. That law also added a Confederate Memorial Day, a move that drew opposition from theNAACP.[13] Several hours later, Hodges signed theSouth Carolina Heritage Act which the General Assembly had passed as a compromise so that the Confederate flag could be moved from the state capitol's dome to its grounds.[14]
Public education was a major focus in the Hodges administration, as Hodges oversaw the founding of theSouth Carolina Education Lottery and the First Steps preschool initiative. The governor also helped pass a $1.1 billion school construction initiative, and the lottery funded millions in college scholarships to South Carolina students.[10][12]
Hodges made efforts to reform land use policy in South Carolina. He signed several executive orders which created task forces and interagency councils. Besides the Historic Preservation Task Force created by Hodges, Governor Mark Sanford did not continue Hodges policies.[15] Hodges also instituted the construction of theRavenel Bridge inCharleston, which is North America's longest cabled spanned bridge.[citation needed]
Hodges received criticism in his first year in office for his management of theHurricane Floyd evacuation, particularly his decision not to makeInterstate 26 one-way westbound.[16][17] Hodges also received blame for financial problems with the state Department of Commerce and long lines at Division of Motor Vehicles offices.[12]
In 2003, theUniversity of South Carolina self-reported to theNCAA several secondary recruiting violations on Hodges' part. Hodges had met with recruits, something he was prohibited from doing as an ex-oficio trustee of the university.[18]
In 2002 Hodges ran for reelection Against formerU.S. RepresentativeMark Sanford. Like Hodges' 1998 bid, the race concentrated on issues such as education and the state budget.[19]
During the campaign, Sanford "likened Hodges to a weasel and to former PresidentBill Clinton andAl Gore," reportedThe State in October 2002.[20] On November 5, 2002, Sanford defeated Hodges, 53%–47%. To date, Hodges remains the last Democrat to have served as governor of South Carolina.
Since leaving office as governor, Hodges has served as a senior advisor at McGuire Woods Consulting, LLC, and as partner in the affiliated law firm ofMcGuireWoods, LLP, and is based in Columbia, South Carolina.
He endorsed GeneralWesley Clark's (D-Arkansas)campaign in the2004 Democratic presidential primaries.[21]
In 2007, Hodges publicly supportedStephen Colbert's attempt torun for president in the South Carolina primaries, and even offered himself up as a vice presidential choice should the comedian actually win the nomination. In February 2008 the former governor officially endorsedU.S. SenatorBarack Obama (D-Illinois) in the2008 Democratic presidential primaries. The Obama campaign, in turn, named Hodges as one of its national co-chairs.[22]
Hodges and his wife Rachel live in Columbia with their two sons. He is anEpiscopalian.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of South Carolina 1998,2002 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of South Carolina 1999–2003 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former Governor | Order of precedence of the United States | Succeeded byas Former Governor |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
