COLUMBIA, S.C. - The oldest member of the
state House of Representatives will face a challenger vying to
become the state's youngest.
Bakari Sellers of Denmark will announce his candidacy for House
District 90 on Saturday, less than two weeks since his 21st
birthday. His opponent in the Democratic primary next June? Rep.
Thomas Rhoad, an 82-year-old lawmaker seeking his 13th term in
office.
Sellers, a bachelor, is a first-year law student and the son of
Cleveland Sellers, the only man imprisioned for what's become known
in South Carolina as the "Orangeburg Massacre." The younger Sellers
was not even born when Rhoad, a World War II veteran, first won
election to the Statehouse in 1982.
"I have nothing against him, but I definitely think it's time for
a change," said Sellers, who thinks his age will work in his favor.
"My goal is to work harder than anybody else.
"I really believe I can go into politics in South Carolina and
make a change," he continued. "Many people would say I'm an
idealist. I don't mind that."
If elected, Sellers would become one of the youngest legislators
to hold office. But he would not set a precedent. Former Gov. David
Beasley was 21 when voters first elected him to the House in 1978.
State law sets 21 as the minimum age for a House member.
The state's oldest legislator is Sen. John Drummond, D-Greenwood,
age 86. The youngest is currently Rep. Thad Viers, R-Horry County,
27.
Rhoad, who lives in Branchville, said he's done a good job
representing District 90, which includes Bamberg, Barnwell and
Orangeburg counties, and plans to continue doing so. He declined to
speak about Sellers' campaign.
"I don't have anything to say about him because I don't know
him," Rhoad said.
Sellers knows the campaign won't be easy. But he's up for the
challenge. His desire to fight for the disenfranchised grew from his
childhood, as he learned from his father about the 1960s civil
rights movement.
The older Sellers, a Denmark native, had returned to South
Carolina after fighting segregation in Mississippi and Alabama.
Sellers was convicted of inciting a riot for his role in the
February 1968 Orangeburg incident, in which state troopers killed
three black students.
Cleveland Sellers spent seven months in jail. He was pardoned 25
years later.
Sellers said his son has talked about running for political
office since high school. Even then, his goal was to become South
Carolina's first black U.S. senator, the elder Sellers said.
"He heard the stories not only of Orangeburg but the trials and
tribulations of Mississippi, trying to break down segregation across
the land," said his father, now director of the African-American
Studies Program at the University of South Carolina. "He had an
opportunity to meet many people involved in that effort. ... That's
the basis and genesis of his overarching world view."
Bakari Sellers, the youngest of three siblings, said his desire
to go into public service deepened when he worked as an intern for
U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., in 2003, and as an intern for
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin in 2004.
He said he wants to work for residents of every race in District
90. His goal is to revitalize its communities by working to improve
schools and attract jobs.
"The issues in my district transcend race," he said. "I will not
lose sight that I am an African-American, but my goal is to
represent District 90. Underperforming schools and the lack of
economic opportunity affect you whether you're black or white in my
district."
