Jim Rex

Jim and Sue Rex, Pat Conroy, and Caren and Bob Ross

Campaign News

(BEAUFORT) Calling him “the next Governor of South Carolina,” best-selling author Pat Conroy introduced State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex to a crowd of supporters gathered on Beaufort’s waterfront to support his campaign for Governor. Conroy, a resident of Fripp Island, SC, is the author of such novels as The Prince of Tides, The Lords of Discipline, and Beach Music.  His latest, South of Broad, reached number one on the New York Times best seller list in 2009.

“Jim Rex speaks from the heart, and I think he speaks for the South Carolina heart,” said Conroy.  As he looked across the marsh, he added, “Our tide is rising.”

Rex took the stage and thanked Conroy for his endorsement, telling the story of his time as a high school English teacher, using Conroy’s novel The Water is Wide to teach his students about the inequities in education across the country.

“In many ways, the water is still far too wide for way too many South Carolinians,” said Rex.  “We need a Governor who understands the connection between education, workforce development and job creation.  We cannot continue to have islands of prosperity in a rising sea of poverty, discontent, and despair.”

Rex vowed to continue his fight to improve conditions along the Corridor of Shame, named for the film in which Conroy appears, detailing the generations of neglect faced by South Carolina’s poor, rural schools.

“A man or woman in a black robe is not going to solve this for us,” said Rex, speaking of the decades-long court case.  “We must solve it.”

Rex will compete for the Democratic nomination for Governor in the primary on June 8, 2010.  For more information, visit www.jimrex.com.

Campaign News

(HILTON HEAD) Lt. General Claudia Kennedy (Ret.) today became the latest high profile South Carolina leader to endorse Jim Rex for Governor. Citing his experience, his credentials, and his plan for moving South Carolina forward, the nation’s first female three-star general said she will work hard to ensure his election.

“South Carolina’s security is at risk in this election, and Jim Rex is the only candidate – Democrat or Republican – who has demonstrated the ability to lead in these uncertain and difficult times. His plan to create jobs at the intersection of effective public education reform, workforce readiness, and economic development is exactly what we need to turn this state around,” she said.

Kennedy was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1969. She served two tours in Germany and one tour in South Korea and focused much of her military career in the fields of intelligence and cryptology. On May 21, 1997, Kennedy became the first woman in the U.S. Army to hold a three-star rank. She served as Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence and is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.

In 2008, Kennedy was mentioned as a possible running mate for then-Senator Barack Obama and was a featured speaker at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She resides in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

“I am honored and humbled to have a pioneering leader like Claudia Kennedy in my corner,” said Rex.

Campaign News

(COLUMBIA) – State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex today received the endorsement of Aiken School District Superintendent Beth Everitt.  She joins forty-eight of the state’s school district superintendents, who, in an unprecedented move, have come together to voice their support for Rex as he seeks to become South Carolina’s next Governor.

Other district superintendents endorsing Rex are:

Dr. Ivan Randolph – Abbeville County School District
Dr. Ora Lee Watson – Allendale County School District
Mr. Thomas T. Chapman – Anderson School District Two
Ms. Phyllis Schwarting – Bamberg School District One
Dr. Jake Sello – Bamberg School District Two
Dr. Teresa Pope – Barnwell School District 19
Dr. Anthony Parker – Berkeley County School District
Dr. Nancy McGinley – Charleston County School District
Dr. William James – Cherokee County School District
Dr. Phillip McDaniel – Chester County School District
Dr. Rose Wilder – Clarendon School District One
Mr. John Tindal – Clarendon School District Two
Dr. Lela Williams – Colleton County Schools
Dr. John Kirby – Dillon School District Three
Mr. Ray Rogers – Dillon School District Two
Mr. Jerry Montjoy – Dorchester School District Four
Mr. Joseph Pye – Dorchester School District Two
Dr. Mary Rice-Crenshaw – Edgefield County School District
Dr. John Morris – Florence School District Five
Dr. Bertha McCants – Florence School District Four
Mr. Larry Jackson – Florence School District One
Ms. Beth Wright – Florence School District Three
Mr. Robert Sullivan, Jr. – Florence School District Two
Dr. Darrell Johnson – Greenwood School District 55
Ms. Fay Sprouse – Greenwood School District 51
Dr. Deonia Simmons – Hampton School District Two
Dr. Larry Heath – Jasper County School District
Dr. Cleo Richardson – Lee County School District
Dr. Karen Woodward – Lexington School District One
Mr. Chester Floyd – Lexington School District Three
Dr. Linda Lavender – Lexington School District Four
Mr. Michael Lupo – Marion School District One
Dr. Frank Roberson – Marlboro County School District
Dr. Sandra Calliham – McCormick County School District
Dr. Thomas Sparks – Orangeburg School District Four
Dr. Cynthia Cash-Greene – Orangeburg School District Three
Dr. Stephen Hefner – Richland School District Two
Dr. David Mathis – Saluda County School District
Dr. Ron Garner – Spartanburg School District One
Dr. Jim Ray – Spartanburg School District Three
Dr. Zona Jefferson – Sumter School District 17
Dr. Frank Baker – Sumter School District Two
Dr. David Eubanks – Union County School District
Ms. Linda Huell – Williamsburg County School District
Ms. Alexia Clamp – Williston School District 29
Dr. Keith Callicut – York School District Four
Dr. Vernon Prosser – York School District One
Dr. Marc Sosne – York School District Two

“I am gratified by the outpouring of support from educators across South Carolina, who are on the front lines every day working to improve the lives of children and families,” said Rex last week.  “They know, as I do, that in order to move South Carolina forward, create jobs, and build our economy, public education must remain our state’s top priority.”

Campaign News

Revered veteran superintendent Chester Floyd joins the Rex team

(COLUMBIA) – State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex today received the endorsement of veteran educator Chester Floyd, currently the superintendent in Lexington School District Three.  Previously, Floyd served as the superintendent of the Berkeley County School District.  He joins forty-seven of the state’s school district superintendents, who, in an unprecedented move, came together last week to voice their support for Rex as he seeks to become South Carolina’s next Governor.

Other district superintendents endorsing Rex are:

Dr. Ivan Randolph – Abbeville County School District
Dr. Ora Lee Watson – Allendale County School District
Mr. Thomas T. Chapman – Anderson School District Two
Ms. Phyllis Schwarting – Bamberg School District One
Dr. Jake Sello – Bamberg School District Two
Dr. Teresa Pope – Barnwell School District 19
Dr. Anthony Parker – Berkeley County School District
Dr. Nancy McGinley – Charleston County School District
Dr. William James – Cherokee County School District
Dr. Phillip McDaniel – Chester County School District
Dr. Rose Wilder – Clarendon School District One
Mr. John Tindal – Clarendon School District Two
Dr. Lela Williams – Colleton County Schools
Dr. John Kirby – Dillon School District Three
Mr. Ray Rogers – Dillon School District Two
Mr. Jerry Montjoy – Dorchester School District Four
Mr. Joseph Pye – Dorchester School District Two
Dr. Mary Rice-Crenshaw – Edgefield County School District
Dr. John Morris – Florence School District Five
Dr. Bertha McCants – Florence School District Four
Mr. Larry Jackson – Florence School District One
Ms. Beth Wright – Florence School District Three
Mr. Robert Sullivan, Jr. – Florence School District Two
Dr. Darrell Johnson – Greenwood School District 55
Ms. Fay Sprouse – Greenwood School District 51
Dr. Deonia Simmons – Hampton School District Two
Dr. Larry Heath – Jasper County School District
Dr. Cleo Richardson – Lee County School District
Dr. Linda Lavender – Lexington School District Four
Dr. Karen Woodward – Lexington School District One
Mr. Michael Lupo – Marion School District One
Dr. Frank Roberson – Marlboro County School District
Dr. Sandra Calliham – McCormick County School District
Dr. Thomas Sparks – Orangeburg School District Four
Dr. Cynthia Cash-Greene – Orangeburg School District Three
Dr. Stephen Hefner – Richland School District Two
Dr. David Mathis – Saluda County School District
Dr. Ron Garner – Spartanburg School District One
Dr. Jim Ray – Spartanburg School District Three
Dr. Zona Jefferson – Sumter School District 17
Dr. Frank Baker – Sumter School District Two
Dr. David Eubanks – Union County School District
Ms. Linda Huell – Williamsburg County School District
Ms. Alexia Clamp – Williston School District 29
Dr. Keith Callicut – York School District Four
Dr. Vernon Prosser – York School District One
Dr. Marc Sosne – York School District Two

“I am gratified by the outpouring of support from educators across South Carolina, who are on the front lines every day working to improve the lives of children and families,” said Rex last week.  “They know, as I do, that in order to move South Carolina forward, create jobs, and build our economy, public education must remain our state’s top priority.”