Marvin Rashad Pendarvis (born October 13, 1989) is an American politician who represented the 113th District (parts of Charleston County) in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2017 to 2024. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[1][2][3]
Marvin R. Pendarvis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 113th district | |
| In office November 7, 2017 – September 16, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Seth Whipper |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 13, 1989 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 1 (Marvin R. Pendarvis Jr.) |
| Parent(s) | Geneice Pendarvis, Marvin Mitchell |
| Residence | North Charleston, South Carolina |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina (B.A., 2011; J.D., 2014) |
Education, career and public service
editPendarvis attended Garrett Academy for Technology, a high school in North Charleston, where he was a wide receiver on the football team. He graduated in 2011 from the University of South Carolina with an undergraduate degree in political science, and in 2014 with a J.D. from the University's School of Law. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Pendarvis served on the North Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals from 2016-2017.[4]
Pendarvis worked as an attorney in North Charleston for Pendarvis Law, LLC,[1] as the attorney for the Dorchester County town of Ridgeville, South Carolina,[5] and as a member of the legal team for the Charleston-based Racial Justice Network.[6] He also had a backlog contract with the Ninth Circuit Public Defender's Office, which ended in 2022.[7][8]
South Carolina House of Representatives
edit2017
When long-time Democratic state legislator Jackson Seth Whipper resigned in August 2017 to become a magistrate judge in Charleston County, Pendarvis became a candidate for his seat in District 113. He ran against Angela M. Hanyak and Chris Collins in the Democratic primary. Pendarvis won with 79.9% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican Theron Sandy II of Pinehurst to win by 1,118 votes.
2018
Pendarvis was unopposed in the Democratic primary and general election.
2020
Pendarvis won his primary on June 9, 2020, and was unopposed in the general election on November 3. In June 2020, he hired his only major staffer, communications director, Jackson Hamilton. Pendarvis introduced legislation to reduce the high rate of evictions in South Carolina, working with advocacy groups on the issue.[9][10][11]
2023
After the announcement that North Charleston Mayor Keith Sumney would not run for re-election, Pendarvis declined to run for the seat, expressing his decision to remain in the House of Representatives.[12]
2024
Pendarvis filed unopposed[13] for re-election for the seat he occupied at the time.[14]
Pendarvis resigned his seat on September 16, 2024.[15] Because information did not come in time to remove Pendarvis' name from the ballot, a special election has been scheduled for March 25, 2025.[16][17][18]
Charleston County School Board member Courtney Waters has announced her intention to run for the seat on November 7.[19] Environmental scientist and South Carolina Democratic Party vice chair[20] Michelle Brandt announced a run for the seat on November 22.[21]
Committee assignments
edit- Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
- Legislative Oversight
Election history
edit| Year | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Candidate | Votes | Pct | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Special Election Primary[22] | Marvin R. Pendarvis | 804 | 79.9% | Angela M. Hanyak | 120 | 11.9% | Chris Collins | 82 | 8.2% | ||||
| 2017 Special Election[23] | Marvin R. Pendarvis | 1,463 | 80.9% | Theron Sandy II | 343 | 19% | |||||||
| 2018 Primary[24] | Marvin R. Pendarvis | ||||||||||||
| 2018 General | Marvin R. Pendarvis | 8,256 | 98.5% |
Controversy
editOn May 17, 2024, Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty of the South Carolina Supreme Court released a decision to temporarily suspend Pendarvis' license to practice law, in connection with a lawsuit filed against him alleging legal malpractice and forgery.[25][26][27] After the lawsuit was filed April 11, 2024,[28] First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe requested an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). SLED confirmed the following day that it had begun an investigation into the matter.[29]
On September 16, 2024, in a letter to House Speaker Murrell Smith, Pendarvis resigned his seat, effective immediately.[30][31]
References
edit- ^ a b "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "Marvin R. Pendarvis - South Carolina Representative - Open States". openstates.org. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Jacquot, Bryce (March 25, 2024). "Ridgeville police chief resigns amid decertification for license suspension since 2008". WCIV-TV. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ Sockol, Matthew (June 28, 2023). "Racial Justice Network will represent family of SC man killed by Alabama deputies". WCIV-TV. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ Sabol, Blair (2024-10-28). "Public defender's office cut ties with suspended lawyer over client complaint". WCSC-TV. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ Owens, Liz (2024-09-17). "I-TEAM: Uncovering old files in Denmark water lawsuit". WRDW-TV. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ "SC Rep. Pendarvis Embarks on The Dream to Reality Tour: Uncovering South Carolina's Eviction Crisis - The MinorityEye". 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Bowers, Paul (2020-11-14). "Episode 13: Landlord problems". Brutal South. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Holpuch, Amanda (2020-08-30). "'Our belongings were put out on the street': the Democrat drawing on experience to fight evictions". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Dylan Leatherwood and, Patrick Phillips (March 12, 2023). "State Rep. Pendarvis won't run in N. Charleston mayor's race". WCSC %. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ Brack, Andy (April 1, 2024). "80 candidates file for elections in Charleston County". The Charleston City Paper. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ "Rep. Pendarvis Files for Re-Election". The Holy Sinner. March 20, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ "Rep. Marvin Pendarvis resigns ahead of election amid SLED investigation". WCSC. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ Kenmore, Abraham (2024-10-09). "Former SC legislator still technically running 3 weeks after resigning • SC Daily Gazette". SC Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "Date set for special election to replace Pendarvis in SC House District 113". WCBD News 2. 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Kenmore, Abraham (2024-11-07). "After SC legislator resigned, he won anyway. Now a special election is set. • SC Daily Gazette". SC Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Staff, ABC News 4 (2024-11-07). "Courtney Waters runs for South Carolina House seat vacated by Marvin Pendarvis". WCIV. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "SCDP Party Leadership". South Carolina Democratic Party. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ Kayanja, Ian (2024-11-22). "Michelle Brandt files for S.C. House District 113 election with focus on family and safety". WCIV. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ "State House of Representatives District 113 Democratic Primary". Charleston and Dorchester Counties: South Carolina Election Commission. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "State House of Representatives District 113 Special Election". Charleston and Dorchester Counties: South Carolina Election Commission. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ "Marvin Pendarvis Biography". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ Kayanja, Ian (May 17, 2024). "State Rep. Marvin Pendarvis' law license suspended after allegations of legal malpractice". WCIV-TV. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ "Democratic South Carolina House member has law license suspended after forgery complaint". The Associated Press. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Hovorka, Alan (2024-05-17). "North Charleston state lawmaker's law license suspended amid SLED investigation". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Steven Ardary, and Meredith Blair (April 11, 2024). "Lawsuit alleges State Rep. forged signature of client on settlement documents". WCSC-TV. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Reynolds, Nick (April 12, 2024). "SLED launches criminal investigation into SC lawmaker accused of legal malpractice". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- ^ Kenmore, Abraham (2024-09-19). "State Rep. Marvin Pendarvis resigns amid accusations from a former client • SC Daily Gazette". SC Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ Reynolds, Nick (2024-09-19). "North Charleston state Rep. Marvin Pendarvis resigns amid criminal inquiry". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2024-10-29.