Jim Rex

A sizable group of women joined me for a dinner meeting in Lancaster at Mariachis.  Between servings, we got down to business. Key topics included transportation assistance from rural parts of the state to the nearest cities – for jobs, services, health care. An extension of the transportation discussion related to providing quality daycare settings statewide with a focus on giving pre-schoolers a leg up toward kindergarten. Other issues discussed:

• Early childhood education for all “at risk” children
• Public education and declining funding
• Discrepancy between men and women in pay

Our conversation turned to jobs which included both helping women get small businesses started and retooling for women who are attempting to change careers.

Campaign News

(COLUMBIA)  – Sue Rex, wife of gubernatorial candidate Jim Rex, announced today that she will embark on a statewide tour, beginning Monday in the Midlands, in which she will host roundtable discussions with South Carolina women regarding issues affecting them and their families.  The series of meetings, entitled “At the Table,” will be aimed at providing a place for women, who comprise 51.3 percent of South Carolina’s population, to be heard.

“As I have traveled the state with Jim in recent months in this race for Governor, my heart has been touched by the women who need someone to listen to their concerns and speak up for them in Columbia. They are worried about finding good jobs, getting quality health care, paying for child care, and so much more.  I hope that I can be a sounding board to bring their concerns back to Columbia and provide a voice for them,” said Rex.

The first “At the Table” event will take place on Monday, April 12, 2010, at Brookland Baptist Church Conference Center, located at 1066 Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia. It will begin at noon and conclude at 1:30 p.m.  Rex will be joined by 10-15 women for a roundtable discussion over lunch. The media is invited to attend.

South Carolina ranks fiftieth in the nation in women elected to public office.  And, according to a 2008 report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, the Palmetto State ranks in the bottom third of states on women’s earnings, educational attainment, and poverty.  African-American women earn little more than half of what white men earn in the state and half as likely to hold a four-year college degree as white women.

“We have a great deal of work to do to ensure that women are heard and represented in South Carolina,” said Rex.  “We must begin the conversation, and I hope that’s what my tour will do.”

About Sue Rex

Like her husband, Sue Rex has spent her entire career dedicated to serving children and families through public education.  As a former classroom teacher and college professor specializing in special education, Sue knows first hand what it takes to provide excellent education for every student in South Carolina – not just through quality K-12 initiatives, but at the college level as well.

In addition, Sue is the author of more than a dozen books and articles aimed at providing young adults and parents with the tools they need to be successful in school and in life.  For her extensive work and advocacy on behalf of children and families, she has received countless honors, including the South Carolina Counseling Association’s Humanitarian award, President Bush’s Point of Light award, and Jefferson Pilot’s annual award for outstanding public service. For Full Bio>>

Low and High Res versions of Sue Rex’s Headshot are available for download:
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