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CCP: Charleston community leaders sound off on lessons from 2020

Looking ahead, looking back

How about one final look back at 2020 before we close the book on this wild year and throw it on the fire? We’ve enlisted a group of local figures, some of whom you may recognize, to jot down some of what they learned over the course of the year. With one foot already in 2021 for many of us, there are some smart takeaways here from local folks you should keep your eyes on. Bye, bye, 2020! Here’s to 2021. Can’t wait to see you there. —Sam Spence

 

Spencer Wetmore | S.C. Representative

There’s a Saturday Night Live sketch that makes me laugh every time I think about it. Kate McKinnon plays a psychic in 2019 spouting crazy visions: “Yes, I see him. He is washing a bag of Doritos with soap … You are screaming, you are crying, ‘That’s not enough soap!’” I’m no psychic, and my predictions didn’t foresee a global pandemic; not to mention running for office and opening my own law firm.

Nevertheless, here is my attempt at resolutions for 2021.  First, 2020 taught us that when you find yourself simultaneously on a dirt road and a six-lane highway, you still have to find a path forward. So, my first goal is to “stay in the work” by learning, focusing on the details, and pushing ahead. Second, I’ve been reminded this year that we’re not going to get anywhere unless we go together. So, my second goal is to listen and better appreciate others’ perspectives.

Finally, 2020 reminded us that we’re all the parent hiding in the closet during a Zoom meeting (as I write this, my husband is participating in a federal hearing in our daughter’s bedroom); so we can’t take ourselves too seriously.  Cheers, y’all!

 

Read more thoughts on 2020 here!

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Achievement Campaign

Associated Press: South Carolina Democrat flips State House seat

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina Democrat has flipped a legislative seat from Republican control in a victory heralded by some Democrats as a possible signal their party could make more gains this fall.

Spencer Wetmore won more than 59% of the votes counted in Tuesday night’s special election in state House district 115, according to unofficial election results from the state election commission. Republican candidate Josh Stokes received just over 39% of votes counted.

The seat in South Carolina’s Lowcountry had long been held by Republicans but was targeted by Democrats seeing possible trends in their direction in the area, spurred in part by Democrat Joe Cunningham’s 2018 victory in the 1st Congressional District. Its most recent occupant, Peter McCoy, earlier this year resigned to become South Carolina’s U.S. attorney. McCoy had been chairman of the state House judiciary committee.

A Green party candidate secured 1% of votes cast. Results will be certified later this week.

Republicans currently hold control of the state House chamber, in which Democrats would now have 45 seats with Wetmore’s victory. The legislature is not currently in session, but lawmakers are due to return next month for a special gathering to weigh in on some measures related to the pandemic, including possible expansions of absentee voting and other changes for the November election. They will also debate the state budget and spending $668 million in federal coronavirus reimbursements to state agencies and local governments.

Democrats across the state heralded Wetmore’s apparent victory as a sign their party could make substantive gains in the November general elections, during which all seats in South Carolina state House and Senate are up for election.

Wetmore’s victory holds only until that balloting, when the seat will again be up for a vote. The Folly Beach city administrator and Stokes, a local attorney, will again face-off in that contest.

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Achievement Campaign

Count On News 2: Spencer Wetmore projected winner of special election for State House Seat 115

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Spencer Wetmore (D) is projected to win the special election for State House Seat 115, recently vacated by now US Attorney for the District of SC Peter McCoy Jr.

The area covers James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah, and Seabrook.

As of 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wetmore held 59.43% of reported votes, with Josh Stokes (R) trailing at 39.32% and Eugene Platt (GPUS) at 1.15%.

The special election will determine who will serve out the remainder of McCoy’s term. Wetmore and Stokes will face off once again in the November 3 general election.

Wetmore currently serves as the City Administrator for Folly Beach. Of the projected win, she said:

“We’re living in trying and uncertain times. The residents of James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah and Seabrook deserve a leader who is going to put party labels aside, listen to the experts on pandemic response, protect our coastline and our healthcare, improve our public schools, and put the Lowcountry first. I’m excited to hit the ground running and get to work for House District 115.”

Although all precincts have reported, SCVOTES has yet to officially call the race. We are monitoring for the official announcement.

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Campaign

ABC 4: Democrat Spencer Wetmore seeks SC House seat

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — Spencer Wetmore made it official on Monday. The Democrat is running for state House District 115.

The district includes James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah and Seabrook Islands.

Peter McCoy Jr. holds that seat right now.

President Trump recently nominated McCoy to be a U.S Attorney from South Carolina.

Wetmore is currently the Folly Beach City Administrator. Before taking on the role in 2014, she was a prosecutor for the Charleston County Solicitor’s Office.

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Campaign

Holy City Sinner: Spencer Wetmore Announces Candidacy for SC House District 115

NEWS
MARCH 2, 2020
BY HOLY CITY SINNER
Spencer Wetmore today announced her candidacy for South Carolina State House District 115, made up of James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island. Wetmore will run as a Democrat.
Wetmore is currently the City Administrator for Folly Beach, a position she’s had since 2014. Before that, she served as a prosecutor for the Charleston County Solicitor’s Office.

“Our leaders in Columbia are too partisan, too divided, and aren’t getting enough done for the people back home,” Wetmore said. “Working in local government, we don’t have the luxury of wasting time on politics. I’m running to bring a fresh perspective and focus on results.”

Wetmore said preserving the environment will be her top priority.

“We’ve been given this beautiful piece of earth and it’s our job to protect it.” she said.  “This includes fighting against the very real threat of offshore drilling, preserving water quality, and conserving our marshes and dunes.”

Wetmore’s other top priorities include raising teacher pay and tackling traffic and over-development.

“Teachers have been underpaid for decades,” she said. “Traffic is just getting worse and there’s no plan to manage growth. We need change and that’s why I’m running. I’ll bring local government experience to Columbia and work with both sides to find common-sense solutions for the Lowcountry.”

Wetmore is a graduate of Charleston’s Academic Magnet High School. She received a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and received her law degree from Vanderbilt University. She and her husband Burns live on Folly Beach and are raising two daughters, Brooks and Lola Kate.

 

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Criminal Justice

P&C: Man convicted of rape, beating gets 6 years

A jury on Thursday found James Lewis Alexander Jr., 49, guilty of a 2008 beating and rape on James Island.

In Charleston County General Sessions Court, Alexander was found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Circuit Judge Deadra Jefferson sentenced him to six years in prison.

Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said the jury reached its verdict after deliberating about two hours. Jurors had the option of convicting Alexander of the lesser offense of aggravated assault, but chose to convict him of the more serious offense, she said.

On Oct. 12, 2008, a beating and rape took place behind the Island Bar and Grill at 815 Folly Road. The victim, her sister and another friend had gone to the bar for a night of karaoke.

During the assault, the victim was knocked unconscious and suffered severe bruising. She was treated for more than 20 bruises and lacerations all over her body, Wilson said.

“The victim regained consciousness to find herself behind a wall in a trash pile with Alexander on top of her, forcing sexual intercourse,” Wilson said. She said the victim fought Alexander and begged him to stop.

The victim testified at trial that she thought she was going to die during the ordeal, Wilson said.

DNA evidence recovered from the victim helped secure the case against Alexander, Wilson said. Assistant Solicitors Timmy Finch and Spencer Compton prosecuted the case.

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Criminal Justice

Live 5 News: Man sentenced to 30 years for stabbing music director to death

By Ray Rivera | June 7, 2011 at 1:31 AM EDT – Updated June 24 at 8:32 AM

 

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – A 30-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering a church music director who was found stabbed 92 times.

Tommy Montgomery pleaded guilty, but mentally ill to murder on Monday.

According to doctors, Montgomery suffered from depression and post traumatic stress disorder. Montgomery will serve the full sentence in the South Carolina Department of Corrections and will receive psychiatric treatment while in prison.

According to Assistant Solicitors Burns Wetmore and Spencer Compton who prosecuted the case, the victim, Brandon Jamison, was the music director at the church that Montgomery attended. In the summer of 2009, Montgomery needed a place to stay, and Jamison allowed Montgomery to live in his apartment.

Authorities say on the night of Dec. 7, 2009, Montgomery became enraged and attacked Jamison, stabbing him to death. An autopsy revealed that Jamison was stabbed 92 times which included several defensive wounds to the hands and 26 wounds to the back. According to investigators, after the stabbing, Montgomery stole Jamison’s vehicle and fled the scene.

Montgomery turned himself in at the North Charleston Police Department the next morning and confessed to killing Jamison.

“This was a completely senseless and particularly gruesome Murder,” Assistant Solicitor Wetmore said. “Montgomery lashed out at someone who had been kind to him. I hope that the victim’s family will have some peace now that this matter has been resolved.”

Copyright WCSC 2011. All rights reserved.