Pamela Evette discusses her political career and progress in office 

            On Sept. 23, South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette spoke to Wofford students about her career in business and politics. As Lieutenant Governor, Evette works alongside Governor Henry McMaster; she made history by being the first female Republican to win an election for the position, and was also the first candidate to have her name on the same election ballot as the governor’s.  

Brought to Wofford by Campus Union as a part of their guest speaker series, Evette spoke to the packed Olin Theater about her path to political office, beginning with the formation of her company, Quality Business Solutions, after receiving a degree in accounting.  

            Quality Business Solutions manages administrative tasks of other companies, such as human resources and payroll. Before taking office, she was the CEO and president, but now her husband manages the company so she can focus on her role in public service.  

Evette told students of her motives for running for office; the need to serve was always there, but she did not decide to act on it until she ran into former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley at a women’s leadership conference and declared, “I want to be where you are.”  

After her verbal commitment, she said that things in her life began to fall into place, which allowed her to run for office. After Haley accepted a position as the Trump administration’s United Nations Ambassador, Gov. McMaster and Evette were able to run together, and won the election.  

            She also discussed some of the changes that she and Gov. McMaster have made during their time in office, specifically about education reform through business. McMaster and Evette received $60 million to use for business encouragement to be used around South Carolina’s 28 lowest performing school districts. “You need business to thrive. If business doesn’t thrive, you don’t have the tools to do anything,” said Evette.  

According to Evette, both she and Gov. McMaster believe that the best way to encourage educational development is to bring business to areas in poverty; with added business, Evette says, students are encouraged to stay and work in their hometowns, and educators will have more local amenities, like stores and restaurants, which will incentivize them to remain in these districts.  

            Evette and Gov. McMaster want to bring big businesses to the state as a whole. She stated that some of her biggest policy goals are to cut unnecessary regulations on businesses and to finish education reform. 

“The welcome sign is on,” says Evette, in regards to her aspirations of corporate influx into the state, “we are open for business!”