André Bauer was inaugurated as South Carolina's 84th Lieutenant
Governor on January 15, 2003, and is currently the nation's youngest
Lieutenant Governor.
Bauer was born in Charleston on March 20, 1969. He is the son of
William R. Bauer and Saundrea Jill Bauer, and is a graduate of Irmo
High School and the University of South Carolina.
Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1996,
Bauer gained a reputation for hard work and tireless constituent
service. In 1999, Bauer was elected to the South Carolina State
Senate in a special election. He was re-elected in the 2000 General
Election and served in the Senate until his inauguration.As
Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Bauer is in the unique position of being
part of both the Executive and Legislative Branches of state
government. In fact, during his two years of presiding over the
Senate, Mr. Bauer has ruled nearly $1 billion in tax increases out
of order, staying true to his conservative values while looking out
for the best interests of all South Carolinians.
Mr. Bauer also strives to maintain an open door policy to
effectuate a more accessible, hands-on government that is
appreciated by the citizens of the state. Additionally, in July of
2004, the Lieutenant Governor's office assumed direction of the
State Bureau of Senior Services, renaming it the Lieutenant
Governor's Office on Aging. This move gives South Carolina seniors
another prominent voice in government and allows for more
accountability in the office.
The Lieutenant Governor has also worked rigorously to make South
Carolina a greater competitor in the global market, leading economic
development delegations abroad in his effort to increase economic
growth opportunities for the Palmetto State.
His ongoing commitment to the needs of the citizens is further
evidenced by his strong support of military families through his
endorsement of The Military Relief Fund, which offers financial
assistance to Reservist and Guardsmen's families called to active
duty as a result of the war on terrorism. Bauer is also a Lieutenant
Colonel in the South Carolina Civil Air Patrol.
Bauer has served his community as a Junior Achievement teacher
and is a member of the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater
Columbia, the Lake Murray Tourism and Recreation Association,
American Diabetes Association, the Columbia Visitor's Bureau, the S.
C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce and the Sons of the American
Revolution. In 2001, Bauer was recognized as Alumnus of the Year for
the University of South Carolina College of Applied Professional
Science. Bauer is a member of Union Methodist Church. |
