James Merrill
James H. "Jimmy" Merrill (b. January 15, 1967) is a former Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 99 from 2000 to 2017. Merrill resigned from the state House ahead of a court appearance on charges of ethics violations. His resignation was effective September 1, 2017.[1]
On December 14, 2016, Merrill was indicted by a grand jury on 30 counts of ethics violations. Later that same day, he was suspended, effective immediately, by Jay Lucas, the Republican Speaker of the South Carolina State House. The grand jury allegations claimed that Merrill took money for personal use from groups with a stake in state House legislation and failed to report it on state House disclosure records. His attorney responded to the allegations saying, "Contrary to the flawed allegations made today, the work performed by Jim Merrill’s private company was completely legal and legitimate."[2]
Merrill was first elected to the chamber in 2000. In 2004, he served as state House majority leader. Later, he served as majority caucus whip.
Biography
Merrill earned his B.A. and M.P.A. from the University of South Carolina in 1989 and 1992, respectively. Merrill worked as a public relations consultant and owner of Geechie Communications since 1994. Merrill served as press secretary for Congressman Floyd Spence from 1989 to 1992. In 1994, he was district administrator for Congressman Mark Sanford. He also worked as political director of the South Carolina Republican Party from 1992 to 1998.
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Merrill served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Merrill served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Merrill served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Merrill served on the following committees:
| South Carolina committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2016
Elections for the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The primary runoff election was held on June 28, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 30, 2016.
Incumbent James Merrill ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 99 general election.[3][4]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 99 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  James Merrill Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 15,967 | |
| Total Votes | 15,967 | |||
| Source: South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
Incumbent James Merrill ran unopposed in the South Carolina House of Representatives District 99 Republican primary.[5][6]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 99 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | James Merrill Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for all 124 seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2014. Incumbent James Merrill ran unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[7][8][9]
2013
Merrill was rumored to be a candidate to fill the vacancy left by Tim Scott, but did not file to run.[10]
2012
Merrill ran unopposed in the Republican primary on June 12, as well as the general election on November 6.[11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | James Merrill Incumbent |
99.2% | 12,968 | |
| Other | Write-Ins | 0.8% | 106 | |
| Total Votes | 13,074 | |||
2010
Merrill ran unopposed in the June 8 Republican primary for District 99 of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Merrill won, after running unopposed, in the general election on November 2.[13]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 99 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| James Merrill (R)
|
8,264 | 99.37% | ||
| Write-In | 52 | 0.63% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Merrill won re-election, after running unopposed, to the South Carolina House of Representatives with 11,294 votes, representing District 99.
Merrill raised $33,151 for his campaign.[14]
| South Carolina House of Representatives, District 99 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| James Merrill (R)
|
11,294 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Endorsements
Presidential preference
2012
James Merrill endorsed Newt Gingrich in the 2012 presidential election.[15]
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2016.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2015.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2014.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- Greenville Tea Party — Legislators are scored by the Greenville Tea Party on their votes on bills "related to jobs, spending, and freedom."
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2013.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- Greenville Tea Party — Legislators are scored by the Greenville Tea Party on their votes on bills "related to jobs, spending, and freedom."
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2012.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- Palmetto Liberty — Legislators are scored by Palmetto Liberty on bills related to "limited government, the free market, and individual liberty and responsibility."
Below you can find the scorecards found for the South Carolina State Legislature in 2011.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters of South Carolina — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental and conservation issues.
- Palmetto Liberty — Legislators are scored by Palmetto Liberty on bills related to "limited government, the free market, and individual liberty and responsibility."
- South Carolina Business & Industry Political Education Committee — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business and industry issues.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce on their votes on bills "that directly impact the business climate and competitiveness of the state."
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Merrill and his wife, Noel, have three children.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "James + Merrill + South + Carolina + House"
See also
- South Carolina State Legislature
- South Carolina House of Representatives
- South Carolina House of Representatives Committees
- South Carolina Joint Committees
- South Carolina state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions via OpenSecrets
Footnotes
- ↑ The Post and Courier, "Charleston state Rep. Jim Merrill resigns ahead of hearing in Statehouse corruption case," August 31, 2017
- ↑ ]http://www.postandcourier.com/politics/rep-jim-merrill-indicted-in-s-c-statehouse-probe/article_fb72da58-c236-11e6-b694-bfc5d6df8e2d.html Post and Courier, "Rep. Jim Merrill indicted in S.C. Statehouse probe; suspended from office", December 14, 2016]
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Candidate listing for the 11/8/2016 statewide general election," accessed August 26, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2016 Statewide General Election," accessed November 28, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina Election Commission, "Candidate Tracking," accessed March 31, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Unofficial primary election results," accessed June 14, 2016
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Election Results," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2014 Election Information," accessed March 31, 2014
- ↑ Washington Post, "Scott's departure for Senate will trigger third special House election in 2013," December 17, 2012
- ↑ AP.org, "South Carolina State Senate and State House Election Results," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ South Carolina State Election Commission, "2012 Candidates," accessed April 24, 2012
- ↑ www.enr-scvotes.org, "2010 General Election Results," accessed May 1, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 campaign contributions," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Newt Gingrich 2012, "South Carolina Legislative Endorsements For Newt Gingrich," January 20, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
South Carolina House of Representatives District 99 2000–2017 |
Succeeded by Nancy Mace (R) |
