There are many ways to define and recognize public service. As it relates to the political arena, I would suggest true public service is more than just running for office and winning the election. True public service is putting yourself before others. True public service is doing so with joy in your heart. Nikki R. Haley, the 116th Governor of South Carolina, has demonstrated service before self during her entire tenure as Governor. We proudly recognize and honor Governor Haley as the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Public Servant of the Year. Governor Haley was elected in November 2010 at the age of the 38. She is currently the youngest Governor in the nation and the also the first woman and first minority Governor of South Carolina. Born in Bamberg, the daughter of Indian immigrants, Governor Haley was one of four children. She met her husband Michael on her way to graduating from Clemson University with a B.S. in accounting. Michael also has a servant heart as he is a Captain in the Army National Guard and a combat veteran who was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013. The Governor and Michael have two children: Rena, 16, and Nalin, 13. Governor Haley has successfully produced the results a chief executive is expected to return. In short, she has done the job she was elected to do. Most of these accomplishments have culminated in South Carolina having one of the fastest growing economies on the East Coast. But she has done more for our state than a couple of economic statistics can demonstrate.
In 2011, Governor Haley, utilizing all of the profits from her book, Can’t Is Not an Option, founded The Original Six Foundation. During its formation, Governor Haley was often touted as the most generous Governor in our Nation. The Foundation assembled a group of passionate South Carolinians to assist the Governor in identifying the needs of our State’s most impoverished communities. Building on its theme of “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” the Foundation impacted many lives. As the Foundation traveled through eight economically challenged counties providing health checks, public assistance information, expectant-mother care packages and back-to-school basics, you saw hope return to the spirits of many citizens that had rarely received such attention, especially from their state’s governor. The Governor was on the front lines finding empty berths in the Bloodmobile, comforting concerned parents, encouraging anxious mothers, playing sports with kids. She swept countless children up in her arms throughout the many visits and encouraged them to live their dreams. Now, as the Foundation continues to mature, she has redirected the efforts to the needs of underprivileged children in helping them succeed in school. All of this has been done with little fanfare from the media, the Governor does this because she believes in lifting people up. Clearly, nothing will mark Governor Haley’s tenure more than the events of June 17, 2015. This is a night all South Carolinians would like to erase from history. This night held all the potential to destroy and divide our great state. South Carolina was blessed to have a true public servant at the forefront during this tragedy. As we watched the amazing grace emanate from Charleston, Governor Haley again picked up the burden and challenged our State’s General Assembly to remove the confederate battle flag from the Statehouse grounds. Many outside of South Carolina will not understand the events, emotions and outcomes surrounding this period in South Carolina history. Many won’t know that the Governor attended all nine of the funerals of those killed in Mother Emanuel AME church. Few will read about her ongoing interactions with the families of the church. Most will forget a grieving Governor choking back the pain she felt for an entire State. South Carolina will not forget. These moments in South Carolina history will be forever edified by a true public servant leader.
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There are difficulties in governing including bringing parties together to get things done. Governor Haley has done this in the area of education. At a time when our state needs a workforce to support our growing economy, Governor Haley has brought together leaders of both political parties, educators and the business community to pass landmark education reforms. These reforms focus attention where it is most needed: on making education funding more equitable for schools in our poorest communities, on reading instruction in the early grades, and on improving technology in classrooms. Similarly, Governor Haley brought together both sides of the aisle to make our government more transparent and more accountable. Under her leadership, the General Assembly passed a bill that, for the first time, required legislators to start showing their votes on the record, allowing citizens to see how their legislators are spending their tax dollars. The aforementioned milestones and achievements can be easily discovered online. What most people never know about true public servants is how they behave when no one else is watching. I have seen our Governor at work behind the scenes and out of camera sight. Having known her before her election to our State’s highest office, having known her before her family and career, I have seen the empathetic and loving heart of a person that cares about those around her and makes others’ concerns her own. There are three seminal events worth sharing where our Governor took the lead and demonstrated to the world what true public service looks like when service supersedes self.
Lastly, as this article was about to go to print, the rains came and the Flood of 2015 washed across our great State. Again, there was a call to serve, but this time, all of South Carolina seemed to rise up as the Governor called for the State to stand together. South Carolinians have now come to know service to others as second nature, an unconscious action. Neighbors helping neighbors. A state unified through the pain of a tragic summer came together in the face of another crisis. While there is much to do in the aftermath of the Flood of 2015, we will continue to be a unified State inspired by a true Public Servant. Governor Haley continues to lay the foundation and build and attitude of service to others throughout our State. We are blessed to have a true public servant in Governor Nikki Haley.
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