Councilmembers Pugh, McBride to help lead state coalition’s efforts

County Councilman Derrek Pugh was recently elected chair of the Membership Committee for the S.C. Coalition of Black County Officials (SCCOBCO), a group that works to ensure minority county officials have the resources to help lead their respective counties.

Pugh, who is in his second year of his first term serving District 2 on Richland County Council, said he was honored to earn the position with the state coalition so early in his political career.

“As a sophomore elected official in Richland County, it’s huge for my colleagues on the state level to see leadership within me and elect me to chair of the Membership Committee,” Pugh said.

The election was made official during the recent annual conference of the S.C. Association of Counties.

As SCCOBCO committee chair, Pugh said he will often be the first person members meet upon joining the organization. He aims to bring more visibility to the organization and increase its enrollment.

“Being a fresh pair of new eyes, it gives me a different perspective,” Pugh said. “I take the angle of, ‘How would I want someone to approach me if I was becoming a new member of an organization?’”

Richland County Councilwoman Yvonne McBride (District 3) is the organization’s vice chair, having been elected to a two-year term in July 2021.

“It is an honor to work with Black elected officials throughout South Carolina to promote efficient county government, as well as providing a forum that focuses on county issues and concerns from a minority perspective,” McBride said.

“It is important for Richland County officials like Mr. Pugh to have leadership roles in organizations such as SCCOBCO,” McBride said. “This type of leadership and involvement can play a pivotal role in supporting the success of these organizations. Also, members’ involvement provides an opportunity to share Richland County’s accomplishments at local, state and national levels of government.”