Sumter County SC GOP

Law enforcement and first responders are encouraged to join us on July 30th in Columbia for the Preventing Domestic Violence Homicide: Lethality Program Assessment (LAP) Summit to help ensure that every officer on the scene recognizes the "unseen" danger, and every high-risk victim is met with a coordinated, community-wide shield.

The event will focus on recognizing coercive control and its role in domestic fatality, understanding the importance of a coordinated community response, and learning more about the LAP, an evidence-based screening tool that helps assess a victim’s risk of homicide or near fatality and connect them with support at the scene.

This training has been approved for 2.25 VSP hours and for 2.25 SSCJA credits.

➡️ Learn more and register: https://sc.coalitionmanager.org/eventmanager/trainingevent/details/1355

Yesterday we continued our statewide Housing Affordability Listening Sessions with a packed room in Sumter.

This was the second stop in our four‑city series, and the turnout said a lot. People across South Carolina care deeply about housing affordability, and they are ready to be heard.

The conversation was real and heartfelt. We heard from residents, service providers, and community leaders. We also heard powerful testimony from people who once faced homelessness and were able to rebuild their lives with the help of programs that offered stability and a path forward.

Those stories stay with you, and they remind us why what we are doing matters.

A big thank you to the nonprofits, housing advocates, and associations who joined us:
SC Housing
Habitat for Humanity South Carolina
The Institute for Child Success
SC ROADMAP
Palmetto Community Advisors
The Affordable Housing Coalition of South Carolina
The South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health

And local community development groups, and our faith partners. Your commitment and expertise make a real difference.

I also want to thank the elected and appointed officials who took the time to be with us.

Representative David Weeks
SC Housing Dir Robert McDonald
Representative Carla Schuessler
Senator Jeffrey Graham
Senator Russell Ott
Senator Tamika Devine
Representative Annie McDaniel
Sumter Mayor Pro Tem James Blassingame
Manning Mayor Julia Nelson
Sumter County Councilwoman Tasha Gardner-Greene.

Your presence shows a shared commitment to finding real solutions.

Thank you to every speaker who stepped up yesterday. Your voices will help shape the recommendations we bring forward as this statewide series continues.

We have two more Housing Affordability Listening Sessions ahead. Florence on June 30 and Greenville on July 28. We encourage everyone to attend, participate, and submit written testimony. Every perspective helps us build a clear and actionable report that reflects the needs of communities across South Carolina.

We hope you can join us in Florence and Greenville!

Attention:
There will not be a July meeting for Sumter County SC GOP! We will reconvene August 6, 2026 at 6:00 pm at the Second Mill restaurant. For any questions please contact Gene Weston.