For some Leadership Charleston participants, visiting the State House is familiar territory. However, with each visit comes new knowledge, new perspective and new connections. And that is just what this group found during last Wednesday’s State House visit.
It Takes More Than Lobbying – We Need You
Joined on the trip by Leadership Greenville, Leadership Charleston started the day off early in the Blatt Building, which is home to the offices of Members and staff of the SC House of Representatives. Several representatives and senators set a welcoming stage by taking time to come greet the group and express the importance of constituents becoming involved in the legislative process, empowering everyone with a resounding “We need you.”
After those hellos, the Chamber’s own Bailey Vincett, along with Anne Peterson Hutto, Jennifer Patterson, Taft Matney, Ben Homeyer and Nikki Huber, pulled back the curtain on the lobbying process during a panel session, candidly sharing about their roles and relationships with legislators. While lobbyists have a direct role in the legislative process, they emphasized that constituents have an important role to play too. Echoing the sentiments of the legislators who welcomed the group just minutes before, Anne Peterson Hutto made it clear that “the most powerful thing any of us in this room have is the power to vote.”
Going into that panel, LaShea DuBois, Business Coordinator at Charleston Wine + Food, kept an intentionally blank slate and open mind, not having much previous context for what a lobbyist truly does. She voiced that after “being able to humanize them and see them as people” via the panel, she left with a more accurate picture of a lobbyist painted in her mind.
Warm Welcome at the State House
Even more of the world of government came to life as the group entered the State House and was met by Governor McMaster with a warm smile and encouraging words.
Left with free time to explore, many filed onto the balcony overlooking the House of Representatives floor activity, watching their own local representatives in discussion. Led by Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, those representatives extended a greeting by formally recognizing Leadership Charleston and Leadership Greenville from the floor.
In watching the floor activity, Brandon Paul, Senior Manager at Elliott Davis, LLC, was pleasantly surprised seeing that, even if legislators were on opposite sides of a bill, they weren’t cutthroat about it. They were still, in a way, working together.
You Can Be Part of the Inclusion
And working together is just what Amanda Loveday and Katon Dawson, two people from opposite sides of the political spectrum, did as they served as panelists during the lunchtime party politics panel. Loveday, former SCDP Executive Director, and Dawson, former SCGOP Chairman, challenged the notion popularized by mainstream media that political parties are always highly divisive. “You don’t have to be part of the division, you can be part of the inclusion,” emphasized Amanda, while Katon encouraged everyone in the room to vote and even run for office if they wanted to effect change.
Stay In Tune with Your Community
Full from lunch and newly enlightened on some of the realities of party politics, the group walked down the block to the South Carolina Supreme Court chambers for a discussion with Justice John Few.
Justice Few provided thoughtful insight into the judicial branch and several points of wisdom. A message highly applicable to the group, he shared that as you move up in leadership positions, you tend to become more isolated. It is essential, he emphasized, that you strive to stay in tune to the realities of what is happening in your community and the way your actions impact that community.
During Q&A, LaShea asked how to communicate a desire for a more diverse bench to the General Assembly, who elects the justices. “Cultivate your relationships with local representatives,” Justice Few replied, so that when you have causes and opinions like this that you would like to raise awareness on, that relational path is already paved. And don’t forget that you can influence who is in office and representing you “not just by voting, but by encouraging people to run.”
Justice Few left the group with a prompt to engage: “Y’all each do some thinking about her question and how you would answer that.”
Though he is often busy, Justice Few creates time to meet with groups like Leadership Charleston and Leadership Greenville, as he finds it one of the most rewarding parts of his job. Hearing those words heartened everyone, including Jennifer Johnson, Architect and Project Manager at McMillan Pazdan Smith, who remarked that seeing all the people who choose to be in government and make a positive impact gave her renewed faith in the legislative process.
For Maryn Goolsby Favors, Director of Advancement at My Sister’s House, who has been to the State House several times before and regularly interacts with local representatives, the discussion with Justice Few felt informative and empowering because she hadn’t previously had the opportunity to meet with anyone from the judicial branch. “I left incredibly moved and energized to do something more with my platform and my abilities after hearing from Justice Few.”
Maryn also expressed that the core of what everyone in Columbia shared throughout the day was they are a partner and want to represent every person as knowledgeably and compassionately as possible.
Deepening Local Connections
Not only did Leadership Charleston have the chance to create these governmental partnerships during the trip, but they were able to further deepen their connections with the people participating in the program right alongside them.
Bryan Adams, Director of Development at Metanoia, reflected that through the program so far, “Leadership Charleston has already been a rewarding opportunity for me to build connections and friendships with other leaders in the Tri-County region who I will be working with for years to improve the wellbeing and economic vitality for all of us who call this place home.”
Here’s to continuing to work together to better our region.
