David Beasley
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| David Beasley | |
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| In office 1995 – 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Jim Hodges |
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| Born | February 26 1957 Darlington, South Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Wood Payne |
| Residence | Society Hill, South Carolina |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina University of South Carolina School of Law |
| Profession | Politician |
| Religion | Christian |
David Muldrow Beasley (born February 26, 1957) is a Republican who served one term as the Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999.
David Beasley, a native of Darlington, South Carolina, began his political career as a member of the Democratic Party, but switched to the Republican Party long before his time as governor. His first run for public office came in 1978, when, as a 21-year-old junior attending Clemson University, he unexpectedly won a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He later graduated from the University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina School of Law.
He served as a member of the House from 1979 until 1995, rising through the party ranks to become Majority Whip. He served as the youngest Speaker pro tempore and Majority Leader in the nation.[1] During the 1994 election for governor, both Beasley and his Democratic opponent Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore had tough primary fights within their own respective parties. Beasley, however, went on to win the general election by a narrow margin of 50%-48%.
During his term as governor, Beasley was known for injecting his Christian faith into the public discourse.
In 1998, Governor Beasley was soundly defeated in his bid for re-election by Democrat Jim Hodges. There are several reasons for Beasley's surprising loss in such a staunchly Republican state.
First, owners of video poker machines, which were legal in South Carolina at the time, poured millions of dollars into advertisements attacking Beasley for trying to ban video poker. Second, Beasley changed his position on keeping the Confederate flag on top of the Capitol. He ordered it moved to a place nearby on the capitol grounds. Many conservative Republicans remembered this supposed "flip-flop" on Election Day, and simply stayed home. Third, Beasley opposed a proposal for the state to support all-day kindergarten, a decision which cost him Democratic votes.
Following his term as governor, Beasley was invited as a fellow at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2003, Beasley was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) for his controversial decision to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina capitol.
In 2004, the former governor unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate. Beasley lost the Republican nomination to Congressman Jim DeMint of Greenville, South Carolina.
In April 2005, Governor Beasley, along with his administration's former Chief Legal Counsel, Henry Deneen, incorporated the Center for Global Strategies, Ltd (CGS). CGS focuses on developmental initiatives in the non-integrated world. Governor Beasley serves as the Chairman of the Board.
In 2007, Beasley endorsed Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries.
Beasley is married to the former Mary Wood Payne and is the father of four children: Mary Hunter, Sarah Catherine, David Jr., and Samuel Ross. Governor Beasley currently resides in Society Hill, SC, located in Darlington County.
[edit] References
- ^ [http://www.sciway.net/hist/governors/beasley.html David Muldrow Beasley}
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. |
Governor of South Carolina 1995–1999 |
Succeeded by Jim Hodges |
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