Ex-Jim DeMint aide, SC school choice advocate considering run for education superintendent
A former Jim DeMint aide and South Carolina school choice advocate told The State Friday she’s considering a run for state superintendent of education in 2022.
Ellen Weaver, president of the conservative think tank Palmetto Promise Institute who also chairs the Education Oversight Committee and is on the board of the Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities, said she’s been approached about launching a campaign.
“Many people that I respect have approached me about running and it’s something that I’m prayerfully and seriously considering,” Weaver told The State after a school choice panel at the South Carolina Republican Party’s Myrtle Beach conference. “No decision yet, but I’m definitely considering it.”
Weaver, who previously worked for former Republican U.S. Sen. DeMint, did not offer a timeline.
This week, Republican Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced she will not seek reelection to a third term, opening up the field for what could be a highly contested race next year.
Spearman said she’ll finish her term which ends in January 2023.
So far, Lexington County’s Kizzi Staley Gibson is the only GOP candidate to file a 2022 fundraising report for superintendent’s race. She has about $3,568 in her campaign account.
“I think that ultimately it’s just going to be a question of if I believe I am the best person to be the voice that parents and students and teachers need in this state,” said Weaver, who’s never sought or held elected office.
“And I’m being very deliberative about the process, the conversations that I’m having. And if I believe that I can serve the people of this state well, then game on.”
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 12:48 PM.
