3/6/08
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Land announces bid for ninth senate term
By Cathy Gilbert

Senator John Land of Manning announced Tuesday that he would seek reelection to the South Carolina State Senate. If elected, Land would begin serving his ninth term in the S.C. Senate in January 2009.

Land has served in the State Senate since 1977 and has been Senate Democratic Leader since 1993. He also serves on the influential Senate Finance Committee.

Land said he vowed to continue protecting the rights and needs of the people of his district and the state, especially our future generations.

During his 31 years of service in the Senate, Land has played a prominent role in tackling many of the issues facing the people of South Carolina. As Senate Democratic Leader, Land has been instrumental in helping the Senate work to pass key legislation that has improved South Carolina public schools, such as school accountability, school construction funding, early childhood education, reducing the student-teacher ratio and school safety. Land also worked tirelessly to see that South Carolina’s children have health insurance through the Children’s Health Insurance Program, insuring an additional 80,000 children in 2007.

Senate District 36 includes all of Clarendon and Calhoun Counties as well as significant portions of Sumter and Florence Counties. Through his leadership, Land has brought many programs, facilities and economic opportunities to his district.

Land is currently second in seniority in the South Carolina Senate.

“I am grateful for the trust and confidence of the voters of my district to represent their interests in Columbia over the years,” he said. “During my tenure, I have pushed for improving our roads, improving our public schools and protecting our natural resources for future generations. Through the years, in partnership, a lot has been accomplished – yet there is more to do and I wish to continue to serve the citizens of District 36.

“This Senate seat belongs to the people of South Carolina – if they will entrust me with leading them for another term, I will continue to serve them with the same enthusiasm and diligence as I have in the past.”

Land attended the University of Florida’s Vocational Forestry program in 1960 and received his bachelor’s degree in 1965 from the University of South Carolina He earned his law degree in 1968, also from the University of South Carolina.

He has been married to the former Marie Mercogliano for 42 years. Together they have three children, Cal Land, Ricci Land Welch and Ceth Land, all of whom practice law with their father. Sen. and Mrs. Land also have seven grandchildren and are expecting their eighth in May.

Filing for the S.C. Senate seat opens on Sunday, March 16 and closes on Sunday, March 30. At press time, no other candidates for the Senate seat have come forward.