Katrina Shealy
For Senate District 23
Katrina Shealy is a lifelong resident of Lexington County. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and active member of St. James Lutheran Church. She is a currently serving on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Friends of Juvenile Justice as chair-elect. She is married to Jimmy Shealy, owner of Shealy & Sons Electric in West Columbia. Their daughter and son-in-law, Erica and Tim Armstrong, have two sons, Taylor and Thomas.
Katrina is also on the founding board of Women of Hope, a newly-formed organization with Lexington Medical Foundation. She is a former board member with the Lexington County Department of Social Services and the Girl Scouts of the Congaree.
She is a graduate of Leadership Lexington County and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Citizens’ Academy. She has been employed with Davis-Garvin Insurance Agency in Columbia for the past 28 years.
She co-chaired the Victory efforts in 2004 and 2006. She has been a delegate to the South Carolina State GOP Convention and attended the 2004 Republican National Convention and was an alternate delegate at the 2008 Republican National Convention. She has been a delegate to both the State and National Republican Women’s Federated conventions.
Katrina is a charter member of the West Metro Republican Women’s group, helping found the organization in 2001, and served as president from 2008 to 2010. She also worked on the campaign to elect South Carolina’s first female governor, Nikki Haley, in 2010.
She has also worked on many local, state and national campaigns. Katrina has served as the Lexington Republican Party Chairman 2007 – 2008. Prior to serving as chair she was the Treasurer for two years.
Here are Ms. Shealy's answers to some questions posed by the Institute.
South Carolina would be a better place if only:
The people of this state would become more responsible first for themselves and then for each other because it's the right thing to do. People should not expect nor should they be given a hand out but in today's society things have changed, circumstances are different and we do need to help others not because someone makes you do it, not because you are going to win some award if you do but because it is the right thing to do. In today's society there are givers and there are takers and you have to distinguish the difference. You learn who can truly help themselves and those who can't and those are the ones you help. None of this is saying it is Government's responsibility but this is "People helping People" in the real sense of the word!
Why you - why now for this position you're running for?
Recent events have shown that regular people have for too long neglected to pay attention to those elected to public offices. My whole political life has been aimed at bringing back true conservative principles to our government and removing those who abuse it. It is time to have elected officials who care about the people and who are not in office for their own personal gain or ego. I want to make a difference for South Carolina and it needs to happen now. I want to be someone in office who really represents the people of South Carolina - all the people.
With relatively few women in elected office here in SC what do you foresee to be your greatest challenge once elected to public office? How will you prepare yourself to face it?
Personally, I'm not approaching this race in terms of being a woman as far as my attitude is concerned. I don't want people to think in that way. I acknowledge there are differences in the way we do things and certainly the male dominated General Assembly has let all the citizens of this state down when you look at what they say when running for office or making public speeches vs. what they actually do while in office--if you can find enough votes actually on the record. But I don't see that in terms of male vs. female. I see it in terms of right vs. wrong. If we have enough good men and women in the General Assembly, I think we'd change things for the better no matter if there are more men than women.
In terms of how others may think of me once I'm elected, if my being a woman is a problem, it's their problem, not mine. I'm not going to count on special privileges as a woman but I realize, realistically speaking, others may treat me differently. I'm going to treat them like anyone else in response--fairly and politely. I expect the same in return but realize I may not always get it.
Even so, I will speak the truth and deal with them honestly and upfront. No backroom dealing for me. If other politicians can't say something on the record where the issues are concerned, maybe they'd better not say it. I think, man or woman, they're going to find that I'm a very determined person when I've got the truth to back me up.
What's the most valuable educational experience you've had?
I think my best educational experience has been common sense and listening to everyday people around me. Book Knowledge is invaluable but being able to listen and talk one on one with people and to share common experiences is the real value. Being able to talk about your children, your grandchildren or issues with your aging parent that's where the education lies – not in a book on a shelf.
What keeps you awake at night?
The one thing that probably worries me most at night is what kind of mess we are leaving this state and this country in for our children and our grandchildren. We are dumping on them a debt they cannot pay and we continuously add to it. We don't run our government like we run our own homes. You can't continue to spend money you don't have. We tell our children you can't just write a check if you don't have money in the bank but we continue to do it. One day we will be dead and gone but our debt will live on forever. And when I stop worrying about all that I worry about the safety of my Grandchildren in today's crazy world and will they be safe tomorrow.
What is your leadership style?
I'm a straight shooter. I tell you what I think and my reasons for thinking that way. If you don't like it and can't convince me otherwise based on the fundamental questions of what is right and what is wrong for then you'll find that I'm not going to sway from my position.
My job as a South Carolina State Senator will be to yell, "Stop!" and point out the nonsense and then dare them to ignore it. I may not always win but I will fight for doing the right thing. Even more importantly, I'll fight against doing the wrong things.
Has political office been a lifelong dream/goal of yours or has something moved you to this decision? Please tell us about it.
Honestly, I never dreamed of doing this as a child--how many of us really do, after all? There are so many important and exciting jobs younger--and older--people would rather be doing and I don't blame them. But with maturity comes the realization that we have to be responsible and look after ourselves and, to the extent we're capable, for others as well.
What is the most heartening and thrilling thing in my life, political or otherwise, is to see people standing up for what they believe in and deciding to do something about it.
Yes, regular, hard working citizens of South Carolina who are getting involved have had to give up doing something they would have been doing otherwise to try to make a difference.