Tommy Moore (politician)
Encyclopedia
Tommy L. Moore is a South Carolina businessman and former state politician who is now an executive of a payday lending
association in Washington, D.C.
Moore was the Democratic
nominee for Governor of South Carolina
in 2006, but lost to incumbent Republican
Governor Mark Sanford
.
. In 1971, he married high school sweetheart, Dale. The Moores have two sons — Baylen and Brent — and two grandsons, Rhett and Luke.
In 1978, Moore was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
as a Democrat. That same November, he started Boiler Efficiency Inc., In 1980, after serving only a single term in the House, Moore was elected to the South Carolina Senate
and was re-elected continuously until his resignation in 2007.
, Edgefield, Saluda and McCormick counties, a seat once held by Strom Thurmond
. Moore’s committee assignments included the Judiciary; Labor, Commerce, and Industry; Ethics; Rules; Medical Affairs; and Fish, Game, and Forestry. Moore also served as the chair of the state regulation of public utilities review committee, senate medical affairs committee and the joint legislative committee on children and families.
In 1994, Moore unsuccessfully ran for Congressman Butler Derrick
's newly vacated seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Like many "Republican Revolution
" races that year, South Carolina's Third Congressional District
was eventually won in the general election by a Republican, future U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
.
Mayor Frank E. Willis
, who ran to the political left of Moore, and Columbia
attorney C. Dennis Aughtry.
Moore had a reputation in South Carolina political circles for being a pro-business, right-of-center Democrat, who was conservative on social issues (such as abortion and gay rights), but moderate-to-liberal on fiscal and economic matters (such as taxes and public education). These positions put the Aiken senator squarely at odds with the incumbent Mark Sanford, who had pushed for lower taxes and school vouchers.
Moore was endorsed by prominent Democrats like former South Carolina governors Richard Riley
and Jim Hodges
. Moore was also endorsed by several influential Republicans, such as fellow senators Jake Knotts and Verne Smith, who seemed to represent the Republican Party establishment's sense of dissatisfaction with the more libertarian Governor Sanford. Ultimately, though, Moore lost the election by a ten point margin, 55% to 45%.
, a national payday lending trade association in Washington, D.C. Moore continued as president and CEO of Boiler Efficiency, Inc.
Payday loan
A payday loan is a small, short-term loan that is intended to cover a borrower's expenses until his or her next payday. The loans are also sometimes referred to as cash advances, though that term can also refer to cash provided against a prearranged line of credit such as a credit card...
association in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Moore was the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
in 2006, but lost to incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Governor Mark Sanford
Mark Sanford
Marshall Clement "Mark" Sanford Jr. is an American politician from South Carolina, who was the 115th Governor of South Carolina from 2003 to 2011....
.
Early life and career
Moore earned his undergraduate degree from University of South Carolina AikenUniversity of South Carolina Aiken
The University of South Carolina Aiken is a four-year, public coeducational university in Aiken, South Carolina. The school offers undergraduate degree programs as well as master's degrees in elementary education, educational technology and applied clinical psychology...
. In 1971, he married high school sweetheart, Dale. The Moores have two sons — Baylen and Brent — and two grandsons, Rhett and Luke.
In 1978, Moore was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
as a Democrat. That same November, he started Boiler Efficiency Inc., In 1980, after serving only a single term in the House, Moore was elected to the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
and was re-elected continuously until his resignation in 2007.
Senate career
In the South Carolina senate, Moore represented AikenAiken County, South Carolina
Aiken County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 142,552; in 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 160,099...
, Edgefield, Saluda and McCormick counties, a seat once held by Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
. Moore’s committee assignments included the Judiciary; Labor, Commerce, and Industry; Ethics; Rules; Medical Affairs; and Fish, Game, and Forestry. Moore also served as the chair of the state regulation of public utilities review committee, senate medical affairs committee and the joint legislative committee on children and families.
In 1994, Moore unsuccessfully ran for Congressman Butler Derrick
Butler Derrick
Butler Carson Derrick, Jr. was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, he attended the public schools in Mayesville and Florence, South Carolina. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1958 and earned an LL.B. from the University of Georgia Law...
's newly vacated seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Like many "Republican Revolution
Republican Revolution
The Republican Revolution or Revolution of '94 is what the media dubbed Republican Party success in the 1994 U.S. midterm elections, which resulted in a net gain of 54 seats in the House of Representatives, and a pickup of eight seats in the Senate...
" races that year, South Carolina's Third Congressional District
South Carolina's 3rd congressional district
The 3rd Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in western South Carolina bordering both Georgia and North Carolina. It includes all of Abbeville, Anderson, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens and Saluda counties and approximately half of Aiken...
was eventually won in the general election by a Republican, future U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham is the senior U.S. Senator from South Carolina and a member of the Republican Party. Previously he served as the U.S. Representative for .-Early life, education and career:...
.
2006 campaign
Moore won his party's gubernatorial primary with a solid 64% of the vote on June 13, 2006. He defeated both FlorenceFlorence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
Mayor Frank E. Willis
Frank E. Willis
Frank E. Willis was the mayor of Florence, South Carolina from 1994 to 2008. His administration was widely praised for ushering in an era of economic expansion as the city of Florence rapidly grew into a regional business hub for the eastern Carolinas, especially in the areas of health care and...
, who ran to the political left of Moore, and Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
attorney C. Dennis Aughtry.
Moore had a reputation in South Carolina political circles for being a pro-business, right-of-center Democrat, who was conservative on social issues (such as abortion and gay rights), but moderate-to-liberal on fiscal and economic matters (such as taxes and public education). These positions put the Aiken senator squarely at odds with the incumbent Mark Sanford, who had pushed for lower taxes and school vouchers.
Moore was endorsed by prominent Democrats like former South Carolina governors Richard Riley
Richard Riley
Richard Wilson Riley , American politician, was United States Secretary of Education under President Bill Clinton and the 111th Governor of South Carolina. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
and Jim Hodges
Jim Hodges
James Hovis "Jim" Hodges is a Democrat who served one term as the 114th Governor of South Carolina from 1999 until 2003.-Early career:...
. Moore was also endorsed by several influential Republicans, such as fellow senators Jake Knotts and Verne Smith, who seemed to represent the Republican Party establishment's sense of dissatisfaction with the more libertarian Governor Sanford. Ultimately, though, Moore lost the election by a ten point margin, 55% to 45%.
Senate resignation
In a move that sparked some controversy, Moore resigned from the South Carolina senate on July 7, 2007 after being hired as an executive vice president for the Community Financial Services Association of AmericaCommunity Financial Services Association of America
The Community Financial Services Association of America is the national organization dedicated to advancing financial empowerment for consumers through small dollar, short-term loans...
, a national payday lending trade association in Washington, D.C. Moore continued as president and CEO of Boiler Efficiency, Inc.
See also
- U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2006
- Governor of South CarolinaGovernor of South CarolinaThe Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
- List of Governors of South Carolina
- South Carolina gubernatorial elections