Biden appoints former Midlands-area lawmaker, SC professor to federal posts
A former state lawmaker who lost her reelection bid in November 2020 has a new job within U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Laurie Funderburk, who served as a state representative for 16 years, was appointed Tuesday as state executive director of the Farm Service Agency in South Carolina by President Joe Biden, the White House announced.
The former Kershaw County Democratic lawmaker lost her reelection to state Rep. Vic Dabney, R-Kershaw, who flipped the longtime blue seat to red with 51% of the vote to her 48% race. Funderburk served on the rural caucus during her 16 years in the Legislature.
Funderburk, who is a Camden attorney, has more than 20 years of experience in the legal, business and insurance fields.
Biden also appointed a University of South Carolina adjunct professor to an agriculture post.
Saundra Glover was named Tuesday as state director of rural development.
Glover teaches in the Arnold School of Public Health, and has served for several years as the associate dean for Health Disparities and Social Justice. She also directed the school’s research at the Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities.
Glover and Funderburk will coordinate efforts among state, federal, tribal and local officials, the White House said.
Neither position needs to be confirmed by the Senate.
“Their core function will be to communicate the challenges and needs of the communities they serve to their agencies and help drive the Build Back Better Agenda locally to support those most in need,” the White House said in a news release. “They maintain deep expertise in their issue areas and critical relationships, serving as the trusted advisor on agency issues among the communities they serve regionally.”
McClatchy DC Reporter Bryan Lowry contributed to this article.
This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 4:00 PM.
