3/13/08
Another Term
Harvin to seek second full term
By Cathy Gilbert

Cathy B. Harvin has announced her intention to seek a second full term for the South Carolina House of Representatives District 64 seat, serving Clarendon and Williamsburg counties.

She was first elected in a special election in February 2006 to fill the remainder of the term of her late husband, Alex Harvin III who died in October 2005. She was re-elected for her first full term nine months later in November 2006.

During her brief tenure, Harvin has been elected by her colleagues to serve as the Deputy Minority Leader of the House and has been appointed to chair the Committee on Health and Environmental Affairs.

Since taking office, Harvin has been involved in a variety of issues affecting her constituents in Clarendon and Williamsburg counties.

“I assisted in mitigating unfair rate increases for water utility customers at Wyboo Plantation and worked with both Verizon and Farmer’s Telephone to get them to share their Directory Assistance listings,” she noted. Harvin also worked closely with the town of Turbeville to secure the funds to establish SELOC Park.

“I am very excited to have helped to secure funds to provide laptops for all ninth graders in Clarendon District 1 and to be able to facilitate getting the State Department of Education to assist Scott’s Branch High in its quest to become a technology academy,” she added.

Most rewarding, according to Harvin, is the one-to-one constituent work, such as helping individuals get the healthcare or medicines they need, assisting with job placement and assisting with acceptance to colleges and universities.

During the current legislative session, Harvin has worked extensively to promote the concept of providing fee free or low fee wireless Internet access for all South Carolinians. She has also worked diligently to get funds established in support of the Best Chance Network that provides breast and cervical cancer screening for uninsured women.

“Through personal life trials, I have come to understand that there is no greater reward in life than having the opportunity to assist others with their life challenges,” Harvin said. “This is my priority as an elected official and a concerned member of the community. It will be my honor to continue to serve in a legislative capacity if re-elected.”

Harvin is a product of the Greenville County public schools. She attended Furman University and transferred in her senior year to University of South Carolina, graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and anthropology. Upon graduation from the USC, she went to work with Sea Pine Plantation Company in Hilton Head Island, serving as a director of marketing. In 1979, she joined the sales team at IBM.

In 1982, she married the late Rep Alex Harvin and moved to Clarendon County. In 1989, Harvin went to work with Central Carolina Technical College, in the department of continuing education. While at CCTC, she received recognition from the U.S. Secretary of Education for her efforts in establishing workplace learning centers.

In 1995, she joined Dell Computer Corporation where she is still employed as a major accounts manager. Harvin has served as the president of the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, is a former member of the Coastal Carolina University Board of Trustees and a former member of the S.C. Commission on Higher Education. In addition, she served as president of the South Carolina Higher Education Foundation, a board on which she still serves.

Harvin has one daughter, Mary Franklin, who is 19 years old and a sophomore at the College of Charleston.

At press time, no other candidates had come forward to run for the District 64 seat. Filing for the June 10 primary opens on March 16 and closes on March 30.