Larry Blanding District 6	Post Office Box 1446 Sumter, SC 29151 803-775-8062 (home) 803-775-9364 (work)

Larry Blanding was born on August 29, 1953, in Sumter, S. C.  He is the son of Rosa Lee (Williams) Blanding and the late Junius Blanding, Sr.  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. 

Mr. Blanding is a member of the Community and Economic Development Steering Committee of the National Association Of County and the Co-Chairman of the Sumter Schools consolidation Committee. 

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.

Claflin University (Orangeburg, SC) is 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 a 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 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 Academic And Christian School 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.