CMCC PAC Announces Endorsed School Board Candidates
October 14, 2014
CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee(CMCC PAC) announces endorsements for Berkeley County, Charleston County and Dorchester County School Boards upcoming elections on Nov. 4.
After reviewing candidate questionnaires and extensively interviewing candidates seeking contested seats, the CMCC PAC Board of Advisors voted to endorse the following candidates:
Berkeley County School Board
| Mac McQuillin | District 2 |
| Shannon Lee | District 4 |
| Tommy McPherson | District 6 |
Charleston County School Board
| Kate Darby | East Cooper |
| Chris Staubes | East Cooper |
| Cindy Bohn Coats | North Area |
Dorchester County District 2 School Board
| Justin Famsworth | |
| Gail Hughes | |
| Brian Mitchum | |
| Tanya Robinson |
The CMCC PAC Board identifies and supports candidates to run for public office at city, county and state levels whose goals support the Chamber’s business advocacy priorities. To be considered for endorsement candidates must complete the CMCC PAC questionnaire. Those who completed the questionnaire were interviewed by the CMCC PAC Board for consideration.
“Our region’s public school districts need effective leaders governing each district. Collectively, these three districts serve 100,000 children each day in our region. School board members are critical in setting the needed policies and in overseeing the millions of dollars in each district’s annual budget,” said Stuart Whiteside, CMCC PAC Board Chairman. “These candidates bring a tremendous amount of real world experience and leadership qualities that exemplify the qualities we need to ensure that the Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester 2 School Districts continue to advance education for all students.”
The endorsed candidates share certain key characteristics of an ideal candidate, including:
- A strong commitment to public education and the highest standards of achievement for all students
- The ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, including other board members, teachers, community organizations and elected officials
- A respect for differing points of view
- A desire to empower the Superintendent to implement board policies and achieve academic results
- A push for accountability at all levels of our region’s public schools
- An understanding of the policymaking role of the school board
“Finding quality talent is one of the key issues our employers face every day, and that begins in our classrooms. For our region to see continued economic growth in the future, we must prepare our students with the skills they need to for the jobs available in our region,” said Bryan Derreberry, Charleston Metro Chamber President and CEO. “We must graduate more students from high school and better prepare them for college or career. These candidates have the qualifications, vision and experience to lead our school boards.”
About the candidates:
Berkeley County School Board
District 2: Mac McQuillin is an attorney with Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, member of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce and Charleston County Bar Association. McQuillin attended the University of South Carolina, School of Law. A Charleston native, Mac is married to his wife Kim and together they have a son, Stafford.
District 4: Shannon Lee is the incumbent for the Berkeley County School Board District 4 seat. Lee running for her second term is the current Vice-chair of the school board. Lee is a member of the National School Board Association and a member of the Stratford High School’s School Improvement Council. Shannon is a mother of three children enrolled in the Berkeley County public school system.
District 6: Tommy McPherson an employee at Santee Cooper, has been volunteering within the Berkeley County School system for nearly 20 years. McPherson has three children that attended schools in the Berkeley County School system. In 1998, McPherson served on the committee tasked to run the $192 million bond referendum. Tommy currently serves Berkeley High School Booster Club and the Sports Council.
Charleston County School Board
East Cooper: Kate Darby is the director of administration at J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Chapels and Crematory and has over 20 years of experience in organization development in not-for-profit fields. Darby has previously served as Chairman of the Mount Pleasant Blue Ribbon Committee for School Accountability and Charleston County School District, Superintendents Parent Advisory Council. Kate and her husband Ed have two sons who attended Charleston County Schools.
East Cooper: Chris Staubes is an attorney with Clawson and Staubes who specializes in corporate law and business litigation. Staubes serves on the Executive Board of the Coastal Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as well as, serves on the Business Expo and Membership committees for the Mount Pleasant Business Association. Chris and his wife Tanya have three children who attend Charleston County Schools.
North Area: Cindy Bohn Coats is the current of Chairman of the Charleston County School Board and is employed by the Patriots Point Development Authority. Cindy also serves on the North Charleston Citizens Advisory Committee and North Charleston Police Executive Community Panel.
Dorchester County District 2 School Board
Justin Farnsworth is Vice President of Operations, Automated Trading Desk, A Citigroup Company and a Navy Veteran. Farnsworth is a member of the Edge Academy Advisory Board and serves on the Flowertown Elementary PTA. Justin is father of two children who attend Dorchester County District 2 schools.
Gail Hughes currently serves as the Chairman of the Dorchester County District 2 School Board. In her time on the board, Hughes has served on every committee, as well as, secretary of the board. Currently, Gail serves as the legislative delegate for the Dorchester County District 2 Board.
Brian Mitchum is Vice President – Relationship Manager for First Citizens Bank and Trust. In 2012, Mitchum served as Co-Chair of the Yes 4 Schools school bond referendum. Currently, Brian is a member of the Summerville/Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army Advisory Board and Summerville Rotary Club. Brian has two children who both attend Dorchester 2 schools.
Tanya Robinson currently serves as Secretary for the Dorchester County District School Board. Robinson has served as PTA President for elementary, middle and high schools, as well as, District PTA President overseeing 23 PTA’s in Dorchester and Colleton Counties. Tanya serves on the Tidelands Bank Board and is a member of the Junior League of Summerville.
About the Chamber PAC: The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce PAC is a separate organization from the Chamber, governed by an independent board of directors. The PAC’s mission is to evaluate and support candidates for local and state office who acknowledge, support and actively vote for pro-business policies and legislation.
About the Chamber: With more than 1,700 member organizations representing 100,000 professionals, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce serves as the collective voice of the business community and a catalyst for advancing the region’s economy and enhancing members’ success through Advocacy, Innovation, Talent and Business Advancement. Visit charlestonchamber.net.
