Information AboutJim Hodges |
|
James Hovis Hodges (born November 19 1956 ) is a United States Democratic Party politician from South Carolina . He was the governor of South Carolina from 1999 until 2003 . He was elected to the state legislature in 1986. During his 12 years there, he opposed Video Gambling , but in 1998, when he became the candidate for governor, he reversed this position and received heavy campaign contributions form the video gambling industry, most notably from gambling industry baron Fred Collins. Following Hodges' election there was a large boom in construction of such "video poker parlors" before the industry was declared unconstitutional in 1999 by the State Supreme Court. As a candidate in 1998 he came out in support of a state Lottery . Like the Georgia politician Zell Miller , Hodges achieved popularity partly because of the lottery, which was approved by voters in a referendum in 2000. South Carolina's economy remained sluggish however, and test scores failed to improve. Thus he was defeated in the 2002 election by Republican Mark Sanford 53%-47%. Major Events and Accomplishments, 1999–2003
|
|
|