Jay Lucas

James Howle "Jay" Lucas (born August 11, 1957) is an American politician and attorney.[1] He served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 65th District from 1999 to 2022. Lucas is a Republican.[2]

Jay Lucas
60th Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
In office
December 2, 2014 – May 12, 2022
Preceded byBobby Harrell
Succeeded byMurrell Smith
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 65th district
In office
December 1, 1998 – December 6, 2022
Preceded byMichael Baxley
Succeeded byCody Mitchell
Personal details
Born
James Howle Lucas

(1957-08-11) August 11, 1957
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTracy Deglman
EducationUniversity of South Carolina (BA, MPA, JD)

Lucas was elected Speaker of the House in December 2014 after the resignation of Bobby Harrell.[3] On March 15, 2022, he announced his decision to not run for reelection to the South Carolina House. He was succeeded as speaker by Murrell Smith.[4]

Political career

Lucas's political career began in the 1980s as he held various local positions. From 1982 to 1984, he served as the financial director for Bennettsville. From 1984 to 1986, he was county administrator of Fairfield County. From 1990 to 1994, he was the county attorney for Darlington County, and from 1995 to 1996, was a judge for Hartsville in Darlington.[1]

Lucas entered state level politics in 1998 when he became the Republican nominee for South Carolina House of Representatives District 65, which was being vacated by incumbent Democrat Michael Baxley. On November 3, 1998, Lucas defeated Democratic nominee Tony Floyd by less than forty votes.[5] He became the first Republican to hold the seat since the Reconstruction era.[6]

On December 2, 2014, Lucas became the 60th Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives following the resignation of Speaker Bobby Harrell.[3] He would hold the position of Speaker for the next eight years. He retired from the position on May 12, 2022.[4] The house elected Murrell Smith as Lucas' successor.[7]

References
  1. "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  2. "James Lucas". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  3. "New speaker's political savvy springs from small-town roots". thestate. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  4. Adcocx, Seanna (March 15, 2022). "Bowing out, SC House Speaker Jay Lucas won't seek reelection, ending 24-year career". The Post and Courier. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  5. "South Carolina Election Returns". scvotes.org. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  6. Pye, Jana E. (December 8, 2015). "Meet the Dancers!". News and Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  7. Greene, Mary. "SC House unanimously elects next Speaker". WISTV. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
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