Curtis M. Loftis, Jr.

Curtis Loftis
Treasurer of South Carolina
Assumed office
January 12, 2011
Governor Nikki Haley
Henry McMaster (Designate)
Preceded by Converse Chellis
Personal details
Born (1958-09-08) September 8, 1958
West Columbia, South
Carolina, U.S.
Political party Republican
Alma mater University of South Carolina,
Columbia (BA)
Website Government website

Curtis M. Loftis, Jr. (born September 8, 1958) is an American politician, businessman and philanthropist. He currently serves as the Treasurer of South Carolina. A member of the Republican Party, Loftis has held elective office since 2010.

Early life and Education

Loftis was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He attended Brookland-Cayce High School and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1981. Loftis was twice elected president of the Student Senate and served as president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Business and Philanthropy

Treasurer Loftis with Mitt Romney in N. Charleston, SC

Loftis is the owner of several central South Carolina businesses and is involved in real estate.

In 1999, Loftis established Saluda Charitable Foundation[1] and remains the principal benefactor.[2] The foundation's activities are faith-based and provide nutritional and housing services to orphans and the elderly.[3] SCF provided over 500,000 meals to the needy and supported medical missions in Haiti.

2010 Election

SC Treasurer General Election Map

In March 2010, Loftis announced his candidacy for South Carolina State Treasurer in the Republican primary.[4] Loftis characterized himself as a conservative reform candidate.[5]

Loftis was endorsed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney,[6] former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum,[7] and former US Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Loftis received many state Tea Party movement endorsements including many in the business community and several newspaper endorsements.

On June 8, 2010, Loftis defeated the incumbent State Treasurer, Converse Chellis in the Republican Primary with 62% of the vote,[8] carrying all of the state's 46 counties.[9]

Treasurer Loftis became the first Republican to defeat a sitting incumbent in a statewide GOP primary.[10]

2014 Election

Treasurer Loftis won the Primary with a 62% of the vote and was unopposed in the general election to remain the State Treasurer.

Description of the Office

Main article: State treasurer

The Treasurer is the sole investor of the Local Government Investment Pool, (LGIP) the South Carolina Future Scholar 529 Fund and the excess funds of the state. Treasurer Loftis is the Vice Chairman of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority.

Treasurer Loftis is Chairman of the Board of Financial Institutions which supervises state chartered financial institutions and supervises mortgage originators and lenders, finance companies, pay day lenders, and title lenders. He is a member of the South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission, which manages the $27 billion fund and a member of the South Carolina Education Authority.

Other Involvement in Politics

Treasurer Loftis served as State Chairman of Romney's 2012 campaign in South Carolina.

Treasurer Loftis served as the Chairman of South Carolina's delegation to the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fl.[11]

National Media Appearances

Treasurer Loftis has appeared on numerous national news programs in addition to being quoted in several major national publications.

In June 2012, The New York Times featured Treasurer Loftis on the front page of its Sunday Business section.

In May 2012, Bloomberg News highlighted Treasurer Loftis' calls for more standards when it comes to hedge funds.[12]

Treasurer Loftis has also made several national TV appearances including live interviews on "Fox and Friends,"[13] "Fox Business Channel",[14] "Varney and Company"[15] CNN's John King Live,[16] MSNBC's Martin Bashir Show,[17] CNN[18] MSNBC's Election Night Special[19]

On the national radio dial, Treasurer Loftis was featured during a live interview discussing the US debt downgrade on NPR's Tell Me More with Michele Martin.[20]

Electoral history

South Carolina Treasurer Republican Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Curtis Loftis 239,296 61.60
Republican Converse Chellis (inc.) 149,191 38.40
South Carolina Treasurer Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Curtis Loftis 907,755 98.94
Write-ins Write-ins 9,748 1.06
South Carolina Treasurer Republican Primary Election, 2014
Party Candidates Votes %
Republican Curtis Loftis (inc.) 177,854 62.02
Republican Brian Adams 108,934 37.98
South Carolina Treasurer Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Curtis Loftis (inc.) 857,526 98.75
Write-ins Write-ins 10,819 1.25

References

  1. ↑ "The Saluda Charitable Foundation was started by Curtis Loftis Jr.". The Columbia Star. July 28, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Curtis M. Loftis, Jr.". Saluda Charitable Foundation. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Treasurer Invests In Life". The State. 2011-08-01. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  4. ↑ "LOFTIS LIKELY TO CHALLENGE CHELLIS". FITS News.
  5. ↑ "Loftis faces no opposition for SC treasurer". Associated Press. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  6. ↑ Romney, Mitt (2010). "Curtis Loftis". Free and Strong America PAC, Inc. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  7. ↑ Huckabee, Mike (July 14, 2010). "Huck PAC Endorses Curtis Loftis For State Treasurer Of South Carolina". Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Election Results". South Carolina Election Commission.
  9. ↑ "Election Results by county". South Carolina Election Commission.
  10. ↑ "Curtis Loftis First Republican To Beat Incument In Statewide Primary". South Carolina Republican Party. Retrieved 05/08/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  11. ↑ "SC at the RNC: The delegation". The State. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 06/12/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  12. ↑ Braun, Martin (2012-05-25). "Hedge Funds Got Most South Carolina Fees While Lagging On Returns". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 06/11/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  13. ↑ "Fox & Friends". Fox News Channel. 2012-01-17. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "FOX Business 11am show". FOX Business Channel. 2011-08-16. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  15. ↑ "Hurricane Irene Interview". Fox Business Channel,. 2011-08-26. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  16. ↑ King, John (12-05-2011). "Who gains from no Cain?". CNN John King Live. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ↑ Bashir, Martin (01-16-2012). "Live Interview". MSNBC. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ↑ King, John (09-07-2011). "GOP Candidates Court SC Conservatives". CNN. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ↑ Matthews, Chris (2012-01-21). "SC Primary Night Coverage". MSNBC. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  20. ↑ Martin, Michele (08-02-2011). "After Debt Fight, States Crave Stability". National Public Radio. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
Legal offices
Preceded by
Converse Chellis		 Treasurer of South Carolina
2011–present 		Incumbent
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