Reece Running For State Senate

Today, Republican Tommie Ellis Reece filed as a candidate for South Carolina State Senate Seat 6 which includes the Berea, Travelers Rest, Wade Hampton and Eastside areas of Greenville County.

Incumbent Republican Mike Fair has already announced his bid for re-election, as well as challenger Chris Sullivan. 

"The citizens in Senate District 6 demand and deserve a Senator who understands that improving their quality of life is job one," Reece said in announcing her candidacy.  "Enhancing economic development and infrastructure, improving education, adopting comprehensive tax reform and protecting gun ownership are just a few of the issues that must be addressed for our community to continue to grow and prosper."

Reece has served on the Greenville County School Board for the past 15 years.  During that time the School Board has expanded public school choice, guided an increase in student academic achievement throughout the district, maintained its AAA credit rating despite massive cuts in state funding, and renovated or constructed 70 school building without increasing taxes for debt service for more than a decade. 

Board Chair three times, Vice-Chair and Secretary, Tommie created and chaired instrumental committees such as the School District’s Advocacy Committee, the Task Force for Charter Schools and the Inter-Governmental Task Force which embraced representatives from various entities to improve communication and collaboration.  

"Elected officials must be accountable to the public and be able to produce results," Reece said.  "Clearly, we need fresh ideas and a renewed focus on making progress, not just making promises.  We can't continue to send the same people to Columbia year after year and expect different results.  It is time for change, action and innovative ideas.  It is time for new leadership."  

A Greenville native, Reece graduated from Wade Hampton High School, earned a bachelor's degree from Presbyterian College and completed graduate courses in business and education from Clemson and Furman.  

Reece is currently the Program Manager for Learning for You at Furman University, where she creates a variety of non-credit classes and trips for personal and professional enrichment, directs a leadership development program for women called “Connections” and coordinates the summer academic enrichment day camps for children.  She previously worked with Greenville Technical College as Director of Admissions & Records. She is also a member of the Greenville County School District Board of Trustees.