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Sumter County Council Members |
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Phone: 803-436-2102 • Fax #: 803-436-2108 Terms of office: 4 years. Map of Sumter County Council Districts 1 thru 7 : County Council District Map
Background:Info When Available
Background:Arthur W. Baker, member of Sumter County Council, was born on December 13, 1954, in Columbia, South Carolina at Fort Jackson Hospital. He is the son of Arthur W. Baker of Sumter and Edith Edens Baker of Dalzell, SC. He is married to Sherri T. Baker and they have two sons: Arthur W. Baker, III and Robert Alston Baker. Mr. Baker is a 1973 graduate of Christ Church Episcopal School located in Greenville, SC. He received is Bachelor of Arts Degree Health in Physical Education in 1982 from Lander College in Greenwood, and attained his Masters of Education from the University of South Carolina in 1990. He is a teacher and a coach in Sumter School District #2 where he has served this district since 1982. Mr. Baker has coached at Hillcrest from 1992-1995 for the girls and boys track team and from 1982-1992 for the Shaw Heights elementary physical education department. He was first elected to Sumter County Council in November of 1994 and again during November 2002. He was sworn in for his second term of office on January 6, 2003. Mr. Baker and his family are members of Dalzell Methodist Church.
Background:Info When Available
Background:Charles T. Edens was born on October 27, 1952, in Dalzell, South Carolina. He is the third child from the union of Mr. H. C. Edens, Jr., and the late Ruth Edens. He is a graduate of Thomas Sumter Academy, of Dalzell, South Carolina and a 1985 graduate of Clemson University, in Clemson, SC where he received a B.A. Degree in Agricultural Education. Additionally, Mr. Edens graduated in 1990 with his Master's Degree in Agricultural Education at Clemson University. Mr. Edens is married to Bobbi LeMoyne Edens. He and his wife have been blessed with three children: Ashleigh Brienne, 23, graduate of Clemson University, Charles T. Edens, Jr., 19, currently attending Clemson University, and Curtis-Lynne, 8, a student at Wilson Hall Academy. Dalzell United Methodist Church in Dalzell, South Carolina is Councilman Edens place of spiritual worship. He is the former owner of the Free Weight Gym. Mr. Edens has served on Council since 1999. During which time he completed the South Carolina Association of County Governments (Public Affairs Department) Levels one and two certification courses for County Officials and he has fulfilled all requirements for the Economic Development School training at the College of Charleston. Councilman Edens is a member of: · The Santee-Lynches Council on Government, Board of Directors Mr. Edens is one of the partners in H. C. Edens, Jr. and Sons, Inc., which is an eighty-year-old family Agricultural Business. He has served as President of S. C. Young Farmers Association and member of Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association. This viable business produces peanuts, corn, cotton, and soybeans. The H. C. Edens, Jr. and Sons, Inc. also raises and markets turkeys through their Dalzell Company.
Background:A native of Sumter County, Mrs. McGhaney is the fifth child of nine born to Elouise Thomas Fleming and the late Samuel "Pop" Fleming. She is married to Rev. Daryl F. McGhaney, Assistant Director at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center and Pastor of Bethany Fellowship Chapel Inter-denominational Church. They have two children, Willie, a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and Katrell, a registered nurse. Mrs. McGhaney graduated from Mayewood High School in 1975, received a Bachelor of Science Degree from South Carolina State University in 1979, and a Master of Education degree from Cambridge College, in 1999. She completed graduate courses from several other universities —obtaining advanced teacher certification for 30 hours above her Masters degree. She is employed with Sumter School District Two at R.E. Davis Elementary School, and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She earned the title of Sumter Area Elementary Distinguished Reading Teacher 2001-2002, and is a past Teacher of the Year for St. John Elementary and R.E. Davis Elementary School. She has also served as the chairperson of the Sumter School District Two's Teacher Forum. Mrs. McGhaney is involved in numerous school-related committees, and is presently the President-elect for the Sumter Area Reading Council. She is a member of the South Carolina Reading Association, the International Reading Association, and the Council on Exceptional Children. Mrs. McGhaney was elected to Sumter County Council on July 16, 2002, to represent Council District Five. She is very active on Council by serving on several of Council's Committees. Currently Mrs. McGhaney serves as a member on the Internal Affairs Committee, Educational Liaison Committee, Waste Disposal Committee, and Chairperson of the Public Works Committee. Some of her civic and community involvement over the years include: · Sumter City/County Planning Commission 1994-1998 Her motto: is “If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain.” Her advice to young people is: “Learn today to be the best that you can be, for you shall never pass this way again.”
Background:Larry Blanding was born on August 29, 1953, in Sumter, S. C. He is the fourteenth child from the union of the late Junius Blanding, Sr. and Rosa Lee (Williams) Blanding. He is a life-long resident of Sumter County, and Council District 6 which he represents. Councilman Blanding was elected to County Council during the November 2006 election. He attended Savage-Glover Elementary and Bates Middle School. He graduated from Sumter High School in 1971, where he served as Senior Class Co-President. This was the first class that graduated under the unitary school system. He attended Claflin University (Orangeburg, SC) where he earned the B.A. Degree with a Major in Social Science, Minor in Education. He graduated with Honors and was a Charter Member of the Pi Gamma Mu National Honors Society. He also served as President of the Student Government Association. He later attended South Carolina State University where he earned the Masters of Education Degree, Majoring in Education, with a Minor in Guidance and Counseling. Mr. Blanding has been active in political affairs of Sumter and South Carolina since his election as a Delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1972 (Miami Beach). He has served as 3rd Vice Chairman of the S. C. Democratic Party, the 1st African American to hold that position. He also served in the S.C. House of Representatives from 1976-1990. He was the 1st African American to sit on the Joint Bond Review Committee and to Chair a sub-committee of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He served as Chairman of the S. C. Legislative Black Caucus and was a member of the Citadel Board of Visitors. He was also a member of the S.C. Human Affairs Commission. Mr. Blanding became active in Community Affairs in 1970 as a Counselor for the Savage-Glover Boys Club. He is the Immediate Past President of The Goodfellows Club. He is a 33rd Degree Mason, Shriner, and Past Master of the St. Paul Lodge #8, Prince Hall Affiliated. A life member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. in which he has held numerous local, state, regional, and national offices. Presently, he serves Sigma as the Alumni Chapter President, President of the Regional Distinguished Service Chapter, and Secretary of the Life Members of the Fraternity. He is President of the Claflin University Alumni Association, Sumter area, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Claflin University Alumni Association. He is President of the Walker Cemetery Association, and is a member of the Jehovah Child Development Center Board of Directors. He serves as Vice President of the B. F. Weston Educational Foundation. He is the Assistant Executive Director of Santee–Wateree Area Mental Health Center, which serves the mentally ill in Sumter, Clarendon, Lee, and Kershaw Counties. He is a member of the Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Blanding is married to the former Peggy A. Mack of Orangeburg, S. C. They have one adult daughter, Dreylan Dre’ Neka Blanding.
Background:Eugene (Gene) R. Baten was born on January 25, 1942 in Fairfax County, Virginia. He is the sixth and youngest child from the union of Robert A. Baten (Jenkinsville, South Carolina) and Mary E. Cook (Herndon, Virginia). At the age of five, his family relocated to Washington, D. C. He attended Gedding Elementary School and Randall Junior High School. He received his high school diploma from Phelps Vocational High School along with a certificate in Drafting Engineering. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in October 1960. After basic training, he was assigned to the Civil Engineering Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey as a Draftsman. During his distinguished military career, he received three Associate Degrees in Applied Sciences to include Audiovisual Services, Social Sciences and Club Management from the Community College of the Air Force. He was awarded the United Sates Air Force Certificate of Distinguished Scholastic Achievement along with numerous other military awards and decorations. He retired after twenty-seven years of honorable service with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. Mr. Baten earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Summa Cum Laude, in Criminology from Saint Leo University and a Master of Science Degree, with Honors, in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University. He is a member of the Delta Epsilon Sigma National Honor Society and the recipient of the Golden Gate University Certificate of Accomplishment for Outstanding Academic Achievement in the School of Management. While serving as a Substance Abuse Counselor at the Office of Social Actions, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, he became associated with the Sumter County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. From 1974 to 1982, he provided services as an Addiction Counselor, Drug Diversion Group Leader and Alcohol Traffic Safety School Instructor. After retiring from the Air Force, he became a full-time employee with the Commission. He has previously held the positions of School Intervention Program Coordinator, Pre-Trial Intervention Coordinator, Intervention Services Director and Deputy Director. He is currently the Executive Director and has held that position since 1995. He has over thirty years of experience in the alcohol and drug abuse field. He is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program Instructor (ADSAP) with the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, a Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist with the National Board of Cognitive Therapists, a Licensed Master Social Worker, South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners and a Substance Abuse Professional with the National Association for Addiction Professionals. Mr. Baten is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Goodfellows Club of Sumter and Vice President of the Sumter Branch NAACP. He served as a Certified Registration and Elections Commissioner of Sumter County from 1999 to 2004. He was appointed and commissioned a State Constable by the Governor of South Carolina. He was married to the late Carrie E. Brockington (Lincoln High School Class of 1968) for twenty-one years. He has a daughter, Alexandra (MS Degree, Troy State University) and a son, Christopher (BS Degree, University of South Carolina, Columbia.) He attends the Palmetto Chapel, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. He received the Sumter Branch NAACP Political Actions Award in November 2002. He was recognized in February 2003 by A House Resolution from the South Carolina House of Representatives for his dedication to promoting racial equality and his distinguished military career. Mr. Baten was elected to serve as Councilman for Sumter County, District 7, in November 2004. Over the past thirty years, he has helped many Sumter citizens to make positive changes in their lifestyle. His motto is, "You cannot erase your past but you can paint a beautiful future."To direct an E-mail to your Sumter County Council Member:• You MUST provide ALL of the following information: • Your Full Name • Your complete residential Street Address (mailing and Zip Code) • Your Telephone Number • Your E-mail Address • Body Text (Include concise message/concerns you wish to express.) • Only messages with "complete information" will be forwarded to your Council Member, either by Fax, Letter, Telephone, or other means. Please submit your County Council E-mail message here:
Council •Additional Information: • Members of Sumter County Council do not have regularly scheduled office hours due to their full-time or part-time careers and other obligations. However, Council members have directed the Clerk to County Council to handle any e-mail correspondence for them. • Also, County Council Members are not elected "at large," but each member represents one of seven (7) Council Districts within Sumter County. • If possible, please determine who your Council member is prior to submitting your e-mail message; otherwise, the message will be forwarded to the Chairperson of Sumter County Council. Questions? Please See: Clerk to County Council on the County Administration Page.
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