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Nikki Haley

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Nikki Haley
Governor-elect of South Carolina
Assuming office
January 12, 2011
LieutenantKen Ard
SucceedingMark Sanford
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 87th district
In office
January 3, 2005 – November 8, 2010
Preceded byLarry Koon
Succeeded byTodd Atwater
Personal details
Born (1972-01-20) January 20, 1972 (age 52)
Bamberg, South Carolina, United States
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMichael Haley
Children2
Alma materClemson University
ProfessionAccountant
WebsiteOfficial website

Nimrata "Nikki" Randhawa Haley (Punjabi: ਨਿਮਰਤਾ "ਨਿੱਕੀ" ਰੰਧਾਵਾ ਹੇਲੀ; born January 20, 1972) is an elected official and businesswoman from South Carolina, where she is currently the Governor-elect. Haley represented Lexington County in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010.[3] Haley was the Republican nominee in the South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2010 and was endorsed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford, and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.[4][5][6] On June 8, 2010, Haley finished first in the four-person GOP primary election with more than 49% of the vote - just shy of the 50% plus one threshold required to win outright. Haley won the runoff on June 22 with 65%,[7] and proceeded to win the general election by a 51-47 margin. Upon inauguration, she will be both the first non-white and first female governor of South Carolina and the second Indian American governor in the country, after Louisiana 's Bobby Jindal. At the age of 52, she will also displace Jindal as the youngest current U.S. state governor.[8][9] She has already been mentioned as a "long shot" presidential candidate for 2012.[10]

Early life, education and career

Haley was born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa in Bamberg, South Carolina on January 20, 1972. Her parents, Dr. Ajit and Raj Randhawa, are Sikh immigrants from Amritsar, India. She has two brothers, Mitti and Charan, and a sister, Simran.[11] Haley is a graduate of Orangeburg Preparatory Schools and attended Clemson University and majored in accounting and then joined the FCR Corporation (a waste management and recycling company)[12][13] before joining her mother's business, Exotica International, an upscale clothing firm, in 1994.[14] The family business grew to a multi-million dollar company.[14]

Haley was named to the Board of Directors of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce in 1998.[15] She was named to the Board of Directors of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce in 2003. Haley became treasurer of the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2003 and president in 2004.[15] She chaired the Lexington Gala to raise funds for the local hospital.[14] She also serves on the Lexington Medical Foundation, Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation, West Metro Republican Women, President of the South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Chairman for 2006 Friends of Scouting Leadership Division campaign and is a member of the Rotary Club in Lexington.[16]

State legislature

Elections

In 2004, she ran for the South Carolina House of Representatives in the Republican primary against incumbent representative Larry Koon. Koon, who had served since 1975, was the longest-serving member of the House. In the primary election, Haley won 40% of the vote (2,247 votes) to Koon's 42% (2,354 votes), thus forcing a runoff.[17] Her platform was anti-tax and fiscally conservative with an emphasis on education.[18] In the runoff, Haley won with 54.7% (2,928 votes) of the total. She then ran unopposed for the House seat as there was no Democratic opponent. She became the first Indian-American to hold office in South Carolina.[19][20]

She was reelected in 2006 and 2008.

Tenure

Haley has served as secretary of the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs committees. She also was elected chairman of the freshman caucus in 2005 and elected as majority whip in the South Carolina General Assembly.[16] She was the only freshman legislator named to a whip spot.[21]

Awards

  • 2005 "Friend of the Taxpayer" - South Carolina Association of Taxpayers
  • 2006
    • "Palmetto Leadership Award" - South Carolina Policy Council (a limited-government advocacy group)
    • "Strom Thurmond Excellence in Public Service and Government Award" - South Carolina federation of Republican Women

2010 campaign for Governor

Main article: South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2010
County results

On May 14, 2009, Haley announced that she would be running for the Republican nomination for Governor of South Carolina in 2010.[4] On November 11, 2009, she was endorsed by Jenny Sanford, the incumbent first lady of South Carolina, as well as former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.[6][5][22] However, she remained in last place among primary candidates in the polls and also in fundraising until former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin endorsed her. The Republican gubernatorial primary took place on June 8, 2010, and Haley captured 49% of the vote, necessitating a runoff election on June 22.[23] Haley won handily in the runoff vote.[24]

In October 2010 South Carolina pollster Crantford & Associates reported Haley barely edging Democratic challenger Vincent Sheheen in general election polling 45% to 41%.[25]

Haley is also part of the Tea Party movement.[26][27]

Haley was elected governor on November 2nd, 2010 over the Democratic candidate, Vincent Sheheen 51% to 47%.

Racial commentary against Haley

On June 3, 2010, on the internet political talk show Pub Politics, State Senator Jake Knotts, a South Carolina lawmaker and supporter of Haley opponent Andre Bauer, repeatedly referred to Haley as a "raghead" because of her Sikh background (male Sikhs wear turbans as part of their religious uniform). Knotts said "We've already got a raghead in the White House, we don't need another raghead in the governor's mansion." The Republican state legislator later apologized for the slur, saying the remarks about President Barack Obama and state Rep. Nikki Haley were meant as a joke.[28][29]

Haley campaign manager Tim Pearson called Knotts "an embarrassment to our state and to the Republican Party." Jenny Sanford, the former First Lady of South Carolina reaffirmed her support for Haley stating that "I can't help but think that these attacks are being leveled at Nikki Haley because of the courageous stands she has taken over the years in defense of taxpayers and government reform - stands that offend many of the most powerful interests in state government. I am more convinced than ever that Nikki Haley is the best person to be South Carolina's next Governor."[30]

Allegations of affairs

On May 24, 2010, Will Folks, former press secretary for South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, made a claim on his blog that he had an inappropriate physical relationship with Haley "several years ago".[31] Haley has denied the claim, stating "I have been 100 percent faithful to my husband throughout our 13 years of marriage. This claim against me is categorically and totally false."[32] Folks attempted to substantiate his claim by releasing phone records that he said show 700 calls between the two while Folks was working as a political consultant for the Haley campaign.[33][34] Folks said he was "forced" to reveal the alleged affair as a preemptive measure after discovering Haley's political foes were attempting to publicize the story.[35]

On June 3, 2010, Larry Marchant, a consultant for Andre Bauer's gubernatorial campaign, made a statement alleging he and Haley had a one-time sexual encounter.[36]

Personal life

Haley was born and raised as a Sikh. On September 6, 1996 she married Michael Haley in both a Methodist church ceremony and a Sikh gurdwara.[37] Haley identifies herself today as a Christian,[38] but also attends both Sikh and Methodist services out of respect for her parents' culture.[26][39] She sits on the board for Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church.[40]

Michael is a federal employee with the United States Department of the Army and an officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard.[41] Together they have two children, Rena and Nalin.[42] Haley's brother Mitti is an active duty officer who has served in the U.S. Army for the past 20 years.[43]

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ Belles of the South Audrey/Asian Women's Magaine - April/May 06'
  4. ^ a b Rep. Haley announces bid to become state's first female governor HeraldOnline.com (S.C) May 14, 2009
  5. ^ a b Kraushaar, Josh (2010-03-16). "Romney backs Haley in S.C." Politico.
  6. ^ a b Shaking it up in South Carolina with Nikki Haley Sarah Palin, Facebook - May 14, 2010
  7. ^ [3][dead link]
  8. ^ http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/45304/
  9. ^ Fausset, Richard (November 2, 2010). "Nikki Haley bests Vincent Sheheen for South Carolina governor". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ http://politics.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2010/09/10/at-least-17-republicans-in-2012-presidential-election-field
  11. ^ Raj Randhawa Takes Her Family Business from Strength to Strength - NRI Achievers
  12. ^ MANTA, http://www.manta.com/c/mmn2jpk/fcr-inc
  13. ^ Hoovers.com, http://www.hoovers.com/companyindex/North_Carolina/Charlotte/Waste_Management_and_Remediation_Services-1.html
  14. ^ a b c Nikki Haley in runoff for South Carolina Assembly Republican Primaries Indian American Center for Political Awareness - 2004
  15. ^ a b Representative Nikki Randhawa Haley - South Carolina General Assembly
  16. ^ a b Representative Nikki Randhawa Haley Bio - Official Site
  17. ^ NRI Nikki Randhawa-Haley eyes South Carolina assembly NRIInternet
  18. ^ Nikki Randhawa wins in S Carolina NRI Internet - November 3, 2004
  19. ^ Washington June 10, 2004: Nikki Randhawa, NRI, Sikh Busimess woman won the run-off election to the South Carolina State Assembly NRI Internet - June 10, 2004
  20. ^ Nikki Randhawa set to get US House berth The Tribune (India), June 25, 2004 (Note that the Tribune headline is in error. In 2004, Haley was set to win election to the state legislature, not to Congress.)
  21. ^ Sikh American woman is Republican whip The Tribune, Chandigarh - January 18, 2006
  22. ^ Barr, Andy (2009-11-11). "Jenny Sanford endorses in gov race". Politico.
  23. ^ "Sordid S.C. governor's race heads to runoff". MSNBC.com. Associated Press. June 9, 2010.
  24. ^ "AP: Republicans tap Haley for gov, make history". The State. June 22, 2010.
  25. ^ "Election 2010: South Carolina Governor - Crantford & Associates". http://www.indigojournal.com. Retrieved 2010-10-2. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ a b Woman On the Verge
  27. ^ Tea partiers ascend in many states
  28. ^ "Senator Refers to Nikki Haley as 'Raghead'|ABC News 4". Wciv.com. 2010-06-04. Retrieved 2010-06-08. [dead link]
  29. ^ Hutchins, Corey. Sen. Knotts Calls Haley a 'Raghead,' Says "We're at war over there" Free Times. 4 June 2010.
  30. ^ Alongi, Paul. "Jenny Sanford says she stands behind Nikki Haley". The Greenville News. June 4, 2010.
  31. ^ "Will Folks: Letting the Chips Fall". Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  32. ^ "Sex, scandal again in South Carolina political air". Yahoo News. Associated Press. May 25, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  33. ^ Smith, Tim (2010-05-30). "Blogger's claims of affair take S.C. politics to new level | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC". Heraldonline.com. Retrieved 2010-07-31. [dead link]
  34. ^ ""Haley-gate:" Night Calls". FITSNews. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
  35. ^ Dewan, Shaila (May 25, 2010). "Scandal Rattles Politics in South Carolina, Again". The New York Times.
  36. ^ "Nikki Haley Affair: Larry Marchant Dishes Details Of Alleged One Night Stand (VIDEO)". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2010-07-31. Plus She's Hot.
  37. ^ Dewan, Shaila; Brown, Robbie (June 13, 2010). "In South Carolina Governor's Race, Nikki Haley Focuses on Similarities". The New York Times.
  38. ^ Nikki Haley for South Carolina Governor. Truth in Facts - Question: Is Nikki a Christian? . Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  39. ^ O'Connor, John. "S.C. state Sen. Knotts uses racial slur against Haley - Politics AP". MiamiHerald.com. Retrieved 2010-06-08. [dead link]
  40. ^ "Meet Nikki Haley". Nikkihaley.com. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
  41. ^ "Haley plans to work with legislators - 2010 Race for the Governor". TheState.com. 2010-06-18. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
  42. ^ Republicans tap Haley for gov, make history
  43. ^ Rucker, Philip. "44 - Nikki Haley: 10 things you didn't know about the S.C. Republican". Voices.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
South Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by
Larry Koon
 Member of the South Carolina House of
Representatives from the 87th District
2005–2010 		Succeeded by
Todd Atwater
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of South Carolina
2010 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of South Carolina
Elect
2011–present 		Incumbent

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