As part of our continuing effort to bring local news that’s impactful to our readers, we’ve proactively reached out to the candidates running for South Carolina Secretary of State.
We will not manipulate their answers in any way, we’ll simply provide to you, our readers. This will allow you to make an informed choice.
This week, we’ll introduce Mark Hammond
Background
South Carolina has been my home for my entire life, and public service has been the focus of my professional career. I grew up in Spartanburg and graduated from Dorman High School. I earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Newberry College in 1986 and a master’s degree in education from Clemson University in 1988. After completing special basic training at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, I worked as a criminal investigator with the Seventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office, assisting prosecutors from 1991 through 1996. I then served as Clerk of Court for Spartanburg County from 1997 to 2002. In 2002, I was elected South Carolina’s 41st Secretary of State. I have proudly continued to serve the citizens of the state since that time. I have had the opportunity to work with businesses, nonprofit organizations, attorneys, notaries, local governments and citizens throughout our state. That experience has given me a practical understanding of how important it is for government to be accessible, efficient, accountable and responsive to the people it serves.
Why I Am Running
I am running for another term because I believe the Secretary of State’s Office has an important role in supporting South Carolina’s economy and protecting the public. The office interacts with thousands of businesses, charities, professionals and citizens every year. The office has a direct effect on whether people can efficiently conduct business, access public information, form organizations, obtain required services and make informed decisions. During my tenure, we have successfully worked to move government services online, improve customer service and strengthen oversight to protect citizens in our state. I want to continue that work while looking for practical ways to make government services easier to use and more responsive to the needs of South Carolinians.
The Biggest Challenges Facing the Office
One of the continuing challenges is keeping pace with the expectations of citizens and businesses. People expect to be able to conduct routine government transactions securely and efficiently from their computers or mobile devices. The Secretary of State’s Office has already made significant progress in this area, including online business filings, document retrieval, UCC services, charity filings, trademark filings and other electronic services. The office recently implemented an additional identity-verification process for online business filing services to strengthen security while maintaining electronic access. Another important responsibility is protecting charitable donors. South Carolinians give millions of dollars to charitable organizations, and they deserve meaningful information about organizations soliciting their support. Our office enforces the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act to hold those soliciting donations accountable pursuant to the statutory requirements of the Act. The office also provides educational information for charitable organizations, including our online video tutorials for charities using the office’s online filing system. The creation of our Give Smart SC app helps donors research registered charities, review available financial information, and file complaints all through their mobile devices.
What I Hope to Achieve
My priorities are straightforward: continue improving customer service, make it easier for citizens and businesses to interact with state government, strengthen protections for charitable donors, continue to modernize technology and maintain accurate, accessible public records. South Carolina is experiencing continued economic growth, and the Secretary of State’s Office should make it as straightforward as possible for legitimate businesses and organizations to establish themselves, comply with state requirements and operate successfully. Technology should be used not simply because it is available, but because it makes government work better for the people who rely on it. That means secure online services, straightforward processes, accessible information and systems that are designed around the needs of the customer.
I believe the Secretary of State’s Office should be measured by whether it serves South Carolinians effectively. My goal is to continue building an office that is efficient, accountable, transparent and responsive while protecting the public and supporting South Carolina’s businesses and nonprofit organizations.
How Voters Can Learn More
Voters can learn more about my campaign and my priorities at www.hammond4sc.com.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
