SC Gubernatorial Appointments Project

The South Carolina Gubernatorial Appointments Project (SC GAP) is designed to increase the number of women in high-level appointed positions in our state government. We join 10 other states striving to make sure that gubernatorial contests bring wins for women appointees, no matter who wins the governor's seat.

South Carolina ranks 50th in the number of women in our state legislature. Women are also underrepresented in senior level positions throughout our state government. Only 4 of the 15 state agency directors appointed by the governor are women.

South Carolina needs to employ the talents of its best leaders, male and female, to meet the state's challenges. When we overlook capable women, we shortchange our state and miss out on diverse perspectives: women bring a collaborative approach to shape a stronger and more just society.

To reverse this trend, we are working to assist the newly-elected governor by locating qualified women for appointment to positions within the governor's administration. We will provide the new governor with the names and resumes of these women for consideration after the election. Previous governors have complained that they lacked information about women qualified to lead agencies. SC GAP will alleviate this problem.

Co-chaired by the Honorable Candy Waites (D) and the Honorable Deb Sofield (R), SC GAP is a broad-based, bi-partisan coalition of political, business/professional, academic, government and non-profit groups. This coalition will use its collective resources to reach out to women in all sectors to locate those who might be considered for high-level positions in government. There is no litmus test in terms of issues. We will forward the confidential resumes of women who we believe have the experience and education to be considered for these governmental positions.

SC GAP is a project of the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics, a 501(c)(3) organization. The Women Appointments Project is managed by the Political Parity Project of the Hunt Alternatives Fund established in 1981 by Helen and Swanee Hunt. For more information see http://www.huntalternatives.org.

Here's how the SC GAP process will work:

  1. SC GAP will open registration to women and receive resumes for consideration.
  2. SC GAP will create a database of women with specified qualifications.
  3. As women are identified who match position requirements, SC GAP will email them to confirm interest in an appointment.
  4. SC GAP will deliver resumes to the new governor early in November 2010.

Registration with SC GAP is confidential. No personal information will be shared with any group or individual without your permission.

*The SC GAP does not have the capacity to check resume facts and cannot be held accountable for individual misrepresentations.

Click here to register for consideration>>