Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.

Hugh Kenneth Leatherman Sr. (April 14, 1931 – November 12, 2021) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate from 1981 until his death in 2021. The 31st District, which he represented, is anchored in Florence, South Carolina. From 2001 until his death, Leatherman effectively controlled South Carolina's budget as the Senate Finance Chairman and was considered one of the most powerful people in South Carolina politics. He negotiated the deal to bring Boeing to South Carolina in 2009 and secured funding for the deepening of the Charleston Harbor in 2011. At the time of his death, Leatherman served as Vice Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. He served as President Pro Tempore of the South Carolina Senate for all but one day from June 18, 2014, to January 8, 2019. The position was abolished and replaced with the President of the Senate. Prior to this change, Leatherman was capable of being both President of the Senate and Senate Finance Chairman. He was also a member of the State Budget and Control Board until it was abolished in 2014.

Leatherman orchestrated the Republican takeover of the South Carolina Senate in 2001. Prior to 1996, Leatherman was a member of the Democratic Party and switched parties during the Republican Revolution. Leatherman was often criticized by fellow Republicans for his willingness to work with Democratic lawmakers.

Personal life Hugh Kenneth Leatherman was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, the son of John Bingham Leatherman and Ada Annis Gantt. He studied at North Carolina State University where he obtained a degree in civil engineering. Leatherman continued to own around 16 percent of the company and to receive a salary from it despite stepping aside as its president in 1991. During that run for office, he traveled South Carolina in a van and touted his business experience.

Leatherman switched parties and became a Republican in 1994 following other politicians in what was dubbed the Republican Revolution. He is also seen as having been instrumental in attracting Honda to Timmonsville by convincing the South Carolina Department of Transportation to build an interchange.

Leatherman used Richard Quinn's political consulting firm. Quinn was indicted in 2017 on charges of criminal conspiracy and illegal lobbying.

Leatherman was responsible for securing $300 million in state funding for deepening of Charleston Harbor in 2011. The Hugh K. Leatherman Port Terminal accompanied the harbor deepening and opened in 2021. It was one of the largest economic development projects in the history of South Carolina. Leatherman voted against cutting $238.2 million from the state budget in 2009. Following the failure of the V.C. Summer nuclear expansion project, Leatherman established a committee to investigate what had occurred.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Leatherman was one of two senate republicans who voted on a failed bill that would have given public college students $250 scholarships if they received a COVID-19 vaccination. Further, Leatherman represented the Senate in a conference committee to reconcile the 2021–2022 state budget. The Senate-approved budget calls for a 2 percent raise for all state employees as well as an additional $1,000 more in cash for teachers.

Feuds with governors

Leatherman feuded with both Governor Mark Sanford and Governor Nikki Haley. During the Sanford administration, Leatherman alongside Senator Glenn F. McConnell and House Speaker Bobby Harrell held most of the power in the state. The feud between Leatherman and Sanford was bitter. In 2016, she endorsed Leatherman's opponent in the Republican primary.

Senate president pro tempore In November 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Governor Nikki Haley to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. As President Pro Tempore, Leatherman would have been next in line to become Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina upon Haley's confirmation and the ascension of Henry McMaster to the governorship. Leatherman, however, stated that he would refuse the position.

On January 24, 2017, when Haley was sworn in as U.N. Ambassador and McMaster became the 117th Governor of South Carolina, Leatherman resigned from his leadership position in the South Carolina Senate in order to avoid ascending to the Office of Lieutenant Governor. He was succeeded as President Pro Tempore by Kevin L. Bryant, who then became the 92nd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. The position of President Pro Tempore was then made vacant again until the next day when Leatherman was re-elected as President Pro Tempore on a 28–16 vote. The sixteen senators who voted nay were Republicans. The change weakened Leatherman's power as he could no longer be both Senate Finance chairman and Senate president. which was inoperable. Leatherman was succeeded by Mike Reichenbach.