David Wilkins

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David Wilkins
South Carolinas Speaker of the House

• Ellison
• John

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David Horton Wilkins
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Biography

• Born on October 12, 1946.
• Graduated from Clemson University in 1968 with a
  bachelors degree.
• Graduated from the University of South Carolina
  School of Law 1971 with a juris doctor degree.
• Served in the Army in 1971 and the Army Reserve
  from 1973 to 1976.
• Is married to Margaret Susan Clary and has two
  grown children.
• Was first elected to represent District 24 in the
  South Carolina House of Representatives in 1980.
• Is a senior partner of the law practice that his
  father started the year he was born.

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List of Legislative Accomplishments

• Sponsored the Truth in Sentencing Bill that
  abolished parole for violent offenders.
• Sponsored the Family Independence Act of 1995
  which comprehensively reformed welfare.
• Sponsored the Property Tax Relief Act that
  provided the largest tax reduction in history of
  South Carolina.
• Sponsored the Enterprise Zone Act which generated
  new ways to bring more new jobs to the state.
• Introduced the Safe Schools Act.
• Introduced the Guilty But Mentally Ill Act.
• Was given the offer to become Ambassador to
  Chili.
• Wrote the Felony-Misdemeanor Classification Law.

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List of Legislative Accomplishments

• Was the first Republican to become South
  Carolinas Speaker of the House since
  reconstruction.
• Introduced the Adoption Act.
• Was offered to me made a Federal Court Judge.
• Introduced the Ethics Act.
• Introduced the Government Accountability and
  Campaign Reform Act of 1991.
• Co-sponsored the Reconstructing State Government
  Act.
• Co-sponsored the Education Improvement Act.
• Has been named Outstanding Legislator of the Year
  by the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, the Department
  of Probation and Parole, the S.C. School Boards
  Association, the S.C. College Republicans, and
  the S.C. Student Legislature.

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Facts AboutDavid H. Wilkins

• Son, James, is 25 years old and, like his father,
  graduated from Clemson University.
• Son, Robert, is now 24 years old and in his
  second year at the University of South Carolina
  School of Law.
• Hobbies are politics and yard work.
• Favorite vacation spot is Pawleys Island.
• Favorite personal trait is determination.
• Least favorite personal trait is impatience.

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Facts aboutDavid H. Wilkins (Continued)

• People he most admires are Ronald Reagan and his
  mother, Evelyn Horton.
• Most life-defining personal experiences were the
  adoption of his first son, and the birth of his
  second son.
• Cars are a Ford Explorer and a Jeep Cherokee.
• Political affiliation is Republican.
• Trait valued most in others is loyalty
• Least favorite trait in others is inflated ego.

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Keeping Students Interests First Key to
Lotterys SuccessA speech by David Wilkins

• The most important issues we face as a community
  and as a state remain constant. Improving our
  schools, relieving the tax burden on families,
  bettering infrastructure, and reducing crime are
  all top priorities.
• The High death toll on our highways and
  explosion of growth in our towns and cities also
  make these front burner issues.
• But I want to address one specific issue vitally
  important to all South Carolina and one in which
  I will be directly involved over the next few
  months and thats developing the legislation for
  a state-run lottery.
• The people of South Carolina have spoken and
  they support a lottery. But they approved a
  concept, not a specific plan. The General
  Assembly will not rubber-stamp any one proposal
  but rather will pass lottery legislation only
  after thoughtful debate and scrutiny. Thats
  what democracy is all about.
• On the heels of releasing our state from the
  scourge of video gambling, I think there is
  nothing more important than pressing the most
  accountable, most responsible lottery legislation
  in the nation. That should be our goal, pure and
  simple.
• If were not careful, we could substitute one
  form of gambling influence for another. Thats
  why we must be diligent in crafting a lottery
  bill that honors the promises made to South
  Carolina school children. Most importantly, the
  majority of lottery dollars must pour into the
  coffers of education and not the pockets of
  highly paid consultants. Lottery funds must
  supplement education funding, not become a
  substitute for it.

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Keeping Students Interests First Key to
Lotterys Success (Continued)

• Advertising should be limited. We must avoid
  preying on those who can least afford it.
• And we must keep video gambling dead and buried
  by prohibiting the use of lottery video terminals
  or other high stakes machines that could
  resurrect the poker industry. We should push for
  legislation that prohibits anyone with financial
  ties to the lottery from contributing to
  political parties or candidates.
• But these are just a few of many worthy ideas to
  be considered.
• I urge all who care about the future of our state
  to carefully watch the lottery debate in the
  Legislature and speak with your elected
  representatives about your ideas and concerns.
• Working together, we can make a lottery work for
  South Carolina students by keeping only their
  interests at heart and the special interests at
  bay.

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InterviewDavid Wilkins had not responded to our
interview questions by the time that this project
was due, but we were able to make contact with
his next door neighbor, Richard Furman. This is
an interview of Richard Furman about David
Wilkins.

• Q  Why did he choose the career path that he
  did?
• A He was is a lawyer, his father was involved
  in politics, and his brother is a judge.
• Q  Describe what he might do on a typical day at
  his job?
• A He is primarily a domestic lawyer, which
  means he handles many divorce cases, and he has a
  reputation as one of the top divorce attorneys in
  the county. On an average day, he would probably
  meet with some clients and do other things
  associated with his divorce-based law practice.

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Interview

• Q  What might he do for his job as Speaker of
  the House?
• A That job involves a great deal of
  negotiation with all sorts of people. He has
  many appointments to make, meetings to attend to,
  negotiations with the general assembly, meetings
  with the constituents, and fundraising efforts.
• What is your association with David Wilkins like?
• He is a very intense individual. He at one time
  was a very accomplished tennis player. Hes very
  self-confident. He has a good rapport with his
  constituents, and can be very persuasive.
• How well do you know David Wilkins?
• A. Casually, but pleasantly. He is not home very
  often as a result of his political schedule, so I
  do not get to see him often. But I have
  thoroughly enjoyed the little time that I have
  spent with him.

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Hyperlinks
www.SCStatehouse.net
http//www.lpitr.state.sc.us/members/bios/19272724
96.html
http//greenvillehigh.greenville.k12.sc.us/index.a
sp
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Bibliography

• David H Wilkins Carolls State Directory.
  Caroll Publishing, 2003.
• Reproduced in Biography Resource Center.
  Farmington Hills, Mich. The Gale Group. 2003.
  http//galenet.galegroup.com/se
• This source included a brief biography of David
  Wilkins.
• Hammond, James T. David Wilkins His life is
  anchored in family and tradition. The
  Greenville News 1 Jan. 2001 B3.
• This source had an article about his life and
  accomplishments and some interesting facts.
• Speaker David H. Wilkins South Carolina
  Legislature Online. 15 Nov. 2002
  http//www.lpitr.state.sc.us/members/bios/19272724
  96.html. 10 November 2003.
• This source has biographical information about
  David Wilkins.
• Wilkins, David H. Keeping Students Interests
  First Key to Lotterys Success In his own
  words. The Greenville News 1 Jan. 2001 B3.
• This source had a speech by David Wilkins.

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Group Members Work

• John
• Title Slide
• Biography
• Little-Known Facts
• Lottery Speech
• Bibliography

• Ellison
• Picture Slide
• Biography
• List of Accomplishments
• Interview
• Hyperlink Page