Eunice Lehmacher, Candidate for SC House District 3
Why did you choose Emerge?
What office are you running for and why?
I’m running for SC House of Representatives District 3 which includes Clemson, Central, and Six Mile, SC. I’m running because I want to see a more diverse group of leaders in our state so that SC provides more opportunities to every family and every individual. We’ve seen during the COVID-19 crisis that leadership makes a difference for our safety and our financial and professional futures. I want to help put SC back to work and help everyone in my district to have equal access to education, training, health care, justice.
What is your vision for your community?
I hope to see Pickens county and it’s residents thrive again after this crisis. I see this rural area as a place where farms and businesses thrive, where new businesses get support, where everyone has a chance to learn and re-train for new opportunities, where tourists come to see our local beauty, where every child gets the support they need, where our care for the earth keeps this area beautiful for generations, where we have better access to cleaner cheaper energy, where we have more health care providers, and where police, health care workers, first responders, and teachers have the support and training they need to help our residents.
What/Who inspires you to run for office?
Mayor Larry Abernathy of Clemson encouraged me to run many years ago when he was still mayor of Clemson. His personal leadership and positive vision for Clemson changed the town and he made all of us feel special. I am inspired by many women leaders including Samantha Wallace, Barbara Mikulski, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mary Geren, and Jody Gaulin.
Which Democratic woman inspires you and why?
Barbara Mikulski, former MD Senator and also a social worker, used her social work skills to help everyone in the state and in the nation. I got my Master in Social Work in Washington, DC while she was a US Senator and remember being inspired by how she connected with voters, spoke the truth to power, and simply got things done.
What’s the one thing you gained from Emerge and would like to share with others?
It’s great to be part of a group of women who include both the very experienced sharing their knowledge and those who are learning along with me how to run. Women need other women to support them as we each reach higher towards our goals. Emerge is a great way to get encouragement, women to inspire me, mentors to help me, and other women to cheer on as they also run.
To read more about Eunice visit: https://www.euniceforsc.com/