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John L. Scott Jr.
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 19th district
In office
2009 – August 13, 2023
Preceded byKay Patterson
Succeeded byTameika Isaac Devine
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 77th district
In office
1991–2009
Preceded byLuther L Taylor Jr
Succeeded byJoe McEachern
Personal details
BornOctober 21, 1953
DiedAugust 13, 2023(2023-08-13) (aged 69)
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseJoan Crouch
Children1
Alma materSouth Carolina State University
OccupationRealtor

John L. Scott Jr. (October 21, 1953 – August 13, 2023) was an American politician who served as a member of the South Carolina Legislature from 1991 until his death.[1]

Early life and career

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Scott graduated from South Carolina State University in 1975. He was a small business owner in Columbia, South Carolina.[2]

Political career

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Scott worked as a field representative for the Office of the Governor in 1975. From 1988 to 1990, he served as vice chair for Richland County Council.[3]

1990 South Carolina House of Representatives campaign

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With the 77th district seat vacated after Operation Lost Trust, a special election was held on December 4, 1990.[4] Scott defeated Republican Mary Fitzpatrick, and was certified and sworn in as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in January 1991.[5][6] He completed the remainder of the unexpired term and was elected unopposed to a full term in 1992.[7]

2008 South Carolina Senate campaign

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See also: 2008 South Carolina Senate election

In 2008, Scott faced Vince Ford in the Democratic primary for South Carolina Senate Seat District 19. After the Primary, the State Board of Canvassers of the South Carolina State Election Commission ordered a recount, which took place on June 16, 2008.[8][9] The recount gave Scott the primary victory.[10] Scott went on to defeat United Citizens Party candidate Chris Nelums in the general election,[11] and represent the 19th district in the South Carolina Senate after the retirement[12] of Kay Patterson.[1][13]

Scott served as a member of the College and University Trustee Screening Commission, a Joint Committee with members from the House and Senate.[14] He served on the Senate Banking and Insurance; Education; Finance; Labor, Commerce and Industry; Legislative Oversight, and Medical Affairs Committees.[15]

2012 South Carolina Senate campaign

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In 2012, Scott had no primary opponent and won unopposed in the general election.[16]

2014 United States Senate special election

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See also: 2014 United States Senate special election in South Carolina

In 2014, Scott considered running for the Democratic nomination in the United States Senate special election for the seat held by Tim Scott, before ultimately declining.[17]

2016 South Carolina Senate campaign

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In 2016, Richland County Council Chairman Torrey Rush challenged Scott for the Senate seat.[18] Scott won the Democratic primary with over 60% of the vote.[19]

2018 Lieutenant Governor campaign

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See also: 2018 South Carolina gubernatorial election

In 2018, Scott was selected to serve as running mate for the office of lieutenant governor, on a ticket with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Marguerite Willis. Scott and Willis were eliminated in the Democratic primary, losing to Rep. James E. Smith Jr., and running mate Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell.[20]

2020 South Carolina Senate campaign

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In 2020, Scott had no primary opponent and won unopposed in the general election.[21]

Honors and recognitions

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In 2002, Scott was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Jim Hodges.[22]

In 2019, Scott gave the Democratic response to the State of the State address.[23]

In 2020, Scott received an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from South Carolina State University.

In 2021, Scott received a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Allen University and the Marion P. Carnell Award from the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association.[24]

In 2022, Morris College opened the John L. Scott Jr. Institute of Network Information Technology and Security Lab. Scott led the South Carolina Institutes for Innovation and Information, which supports the state's seven historically black colleges and universities.[25] He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from Voorhees University.

In 2023, Scott was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina and "Columbia 50 Most Influential" by Columbia Business Monthly;[26]

Death

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Scott was hospitalized at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston on August 11, 2023, and had previously dealt with blood clot issues.[27] He died on August 13 at the age of 69.[1][28][29] Governor Henry McMaster announced that flags would be lowered in the late Senator's honor.[30] On August 17, 2023, Executive Order 2023-28 was filed for that purpose.

South Carolina Senators wearing ribboned pins to the Memorial service of their colleague Senator John L. Scott Jr. August 19, 2023

A memorial service was held on August 19, 2023, at Bible Way Church of Atlas Road in Columbia. Over 1800 people attended,[31] including Governor Henry McMaster, former governor Jim Hodges, Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann[32] and Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. Some of the dignitaries giving remarks included President of the South Carolina Senate Thomas C. Alexander, former representative Jerry Govan Jr., Representative Leon Howard and deacon and retired University of South Carolina head Track and Field coach Curtis Frye.[33]

Special Election

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See also: 2024 United States state legislative elections

A special election was held to fill Scott's unexpired term.[34] On August 22, the Office of the President of the South Carolina Senate announced that the date of the special election would be January 2, 2024.

Filing took place between September 1 and 9, 2023, with primaries held on October 24 and a run-off on November 7.[35] At the close of the filing period, seven candidates had filed: former South Carolina Democratic Party Black Caucus Chair Johnnie Cordero,[36] State House of Representative member Kambrell Garvin, Broad River Business Alliance[37] President Javar Juarez and former City of Columbia Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine for the Democratic Primary, and Independence Party candidate Michael A. Addison, United Citizens Party candidate Chris Nelums, and Republican Party candidate Kizzy Smalls.[38]

On October 24, Isaac Devine won the Democratic primary, and went on to defeat Addison, Nelums and Smalls in the January 2024 special election.[39]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Bustos, Joseph (August 13, 2023). "South Carolina State Sen. John Scott, of Richland County dies. He was 69". The State. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "South Carolina senator, longtime Democratic lawmaker John Scott dies at 69". WSAZ-TV. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "Be Careful of Inward Thinking: Interview with South Carolina State Senator John L. Scott Jr". Adam Mendler. 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  4. ^ "Communication". Journal of the House of Representatives. January 8, 1991. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  5. ^ "S.C. House of Representatives District 77 Special Election" (PDF). South Carolina Election Commission Annual Report 1990-1991. June 20, 1991. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "State Lawmaker Is Found Guilty In a South Carolina Bribery Case". New York Times. October 26, 1990. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  7. ^ "S.C. House of Representatives District #77 - Special Election December 4, 1990 RICHLAND COUNTY" (PDF). South Carolina Election Commission Annual Report 1992-1993. June 20, 1992. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  8. ^ "SEC Certifies Results of Primaries; Calls for Recounts, Runoffs". South Carolina State Elections Commission. June 13, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "Election officials set runoffs, recounts". The Sumter Item. June 13, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Santaella, Tony (June 16, 2008). "Recount Results Are In". WLTX-TV. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "2008 General Election Results". South Carolina State Election Commission. June 1, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  12. ^ Mursch, Bryce (February 8, 2007). "Kay Patterson to retire". WIS-TV. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  13. ^ "RECOUNT - 2008 Republican and Democratic Primary". South Carolina State Election Commission. July 1, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "College and University Trustee Screening Commission". South Carolina Legislature. 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  15. ^ "Senator John L. Scott Jr". South Carolina Legislature. 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  16. ^ "2012 General Election". South Carolina State Election Commission. April 9, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  17. ^ Beam, Adam (August 25, 2013). "The Buzz: Rand Paul on Lindsey Graham, second Democrat may challenge Tim Scott". The State. Archived from the original on August 25, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  18. ^ Adamczyk, Shelli (June 7, 2016). "Torrey Rush challenging John Scott for state Senate seat". WACH-TV. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "Election Results". South Carolina State Election Commission. July 26, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  20. ^ Schechter, Maayan (August 13, 2023). "Richland SC Sen. John Scott dies at 69". South Carolina Public Radio. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  21. ^ "State Senate, District 19". South Carolina State Election Commission. June 30, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Order of the Palmetto Recipients" (PDF). South Carolina Department of Archives and History. August 19, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  23. ^ "Scott calls for more help for the poor in Democratic response to State of the State". WLTX-TV. Associated Press. January 23, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  24. ^ "South Carolina Primary Health Care Association Holds 2021 State Policies and Issues Forum" (PDF). South Carolina Primary Health Care Association. January 25, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  25. ^ "Morris College celebrates new John L. Scott, Jr. Institute of Network Information Technology and Security". South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. April 17, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  26. ^ Walker, Donna Isbell (January 12, 2023). "Columbia 50 Most Influential". Columbia Business Monthly. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  27. ^ "South Carolina State Sen. John Scott of Richland County dies. He was 69". Yahoo News. August 13, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  28. ^ Parrilla-Guerrero, Mayra (August 13, 2023). "State senator John Scott dies at the age of 69". WIS-TV. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  29. ^ Adcox, Seanna (August 13, 2023). "SC Sen. John Scott, 33-year veteran of the Statehouse, has died at age 69". The Post and Courier. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  30. ^ "Statement from Governor Henry McMaster on the Passing of Senator John Scott". Office of the Governor Henry McMaster. August 13, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  31. ^ Homan, Jacob (August 19, 2023). "Beloved South Carolina Senator John Scott laid to rest, 1,800 people in attendance". WPDE-TV. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  32. ^ "The City of Columbia Postpones "Sistercare Saturdays"". City of Columbia. August 18, 2023. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  33. ^ "Memorial service for Sen. John Scott honored the legacy of man who lived everyday to help others". wIS-TV. August 19, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  34. ^ Kinard, Meg (August 13, 2023). "South Carolina state Sen. John Scott, longtime Democratic lawmaker, dies at 69". Associated Press. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  35. ^ Bustos, Joseph (August 22, 2023). "SC special election scheduled to fill the late Sen. John Scott's seat. Here's when". The State Newspaper. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  36. ^ Starr, Terrell Jermaine (January 18, 2020). "Tom Steyer Picks Up 3 Black Surrogates From the Carolinas". The Root. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  37. ^ Budds, Becky (July 28, 2022). "Community members working to revitalize Broad River Road District". WLTX-TV. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  38. ^ "10/24/2023 Senate District 19 Primary". South Carolina State Election Commission. 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  39. ^ Mayra Parrilla-Guerrero, Ashley Jones and, Maggie Brown (October 24, 2023). "Tameika Isaac Devine projected winner of SC Senate District 19 primary". WISTV. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
[edit]
South Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 77th district
1991–2009 		Succeeded by
South Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 19th district
2009–2023 		Succeeded by
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