Representative Jerry Govan (D) of Orangeburg has announced that he will run for state superintendent of education.
Molly Spearman, the current superintendent, announced that she would not seek a third term.
A former educator and member of the Education and Public Works Committee, Representative Govan has served in the House for 29 years.
He is a native of Orangeburg, SC, and the son of the late Roberta & Jerry N. Govan. He is married to the former Wanda E. Gibson of Estill, SC. They have four daughters, Shawntara, Jeri Nicole, Lawanda, and Gabrielle, and five grandchildren, Kamryn McKenzie, Tony Michael III, Tyler Mason, Taylor Matthew, and Jasmine Mya. He currently serves as an associate minister at the Historic Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where he and his wife are members.
He is a 1976 Graduate of Orangeburg-Wilkinson H.S. He is a proud graduate of South Carolina State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and a Masters of Arts in Teaching. Govan has a long history of community service.
Rep. Govan was first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1992, and he is the 2nd ranking member of the body. Additionally, he is Chairman of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, and he is the first House member in the Caucus’ history to be elected twice as its Chair.
In addition, he is the Senior ranking member of the House Education & Public Works Committee, K-12 and Public Safety Sub-committees, State House Committee (Vice Chair) & House Operation & Management Committees (1st Vice Chair), and Ad Hoc Committee on School Climate and Safety, a member of the National Conference of State Legislator’s Education Committee and a 2018 appointee to the Early Learning Opportunity Gaps Advisory Group and National Center for Dropout Prevention Advisory Board.
Govan announced that he is closing this chapter on the house district seat, “This is about our children, and I think it’s indeed critical that we talk about issues, and not about politics,” said Govan. “I’m talking about things like rebuilding the trust between parents and educators, that’s a big issue right now. We need to prepare our kids for the future.”
Only Republican Kathy Maness has announced a bid for the office so far.
