SC politics: Shealy says she will seek re-election

State Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, the only woman member of the state Senate, said Monday that she will seek re-election in 2016.

Shealy was elected to the District 23 seat in 2012. An insurance executive, she lives in the Red Bank area of Lexington.

More S.C. elected officials urge Vice President Biden to seek nomination

The S.C. “Draft Biden” team says more than 15 additional current and former elected officials have signed on to an effort encouraging Democratic Vice President Joe Biden to enter the presidential race.

Those joining the draft effort, which already includes state Sen. Gerald Malloy, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley and former state schools Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum, include: Sen. Joel Lourie of Richland; state Reps. Jerry Govan of Orangeburg, Chris Hart of Richland, Joe McEachern of Richland, Cezar McKnight of Williamsburg, David Mack of Charleston, and James Smith of Richland; Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott; former Lt. Gov. Mike Daniel of Cherokee; and former state Sens. Phil Leventis of Sumter and Tommy Moore of Aiken.

“Vice President Biden is the candidate I trust with our country’s future,” said Rep. Smith. “Joe Biden has spent his life serving our country – he is the candidate we need with the capability to best lead our country as president on Day 1.”

Governor’s schedule, activities

Gov. Nikki Haley’s publicly announced schedule for this week, released Monday by her staff, is:

Through Thursday: Haley and economic-development officials will be in Europe on a trade mission with stops including Sweden and Germany

Friday, 4 p.m.: With former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and Mike Needham of Heritage Action, Haley will host the “Take Back America” GOP presidential candidate forum, Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville

According to her staff, Haley’s activities last week included:

5: Days spent on the ongoing European trade mission in the week that ended Sunday

2: Calls to an unidentified fellow governor or governors

1 each: Policy meeting; also, a call concerning an unidentified state agency; also, a constituent call; also, a meeting with Charleston Mayor Joe Riley; also, a call to the Rev. Jesse Jackson

Busiest day: Tuesday with seven activities

Slowest Day: Monday, the Labor Day holiday, with only one activity