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André Bauer was inaugurated as South Carolina's 84th Lieutenant Governor on January 15, 2003, and is currently the nation's youngest Lieutenant Governor.
Bauer was born in Charleston on March 20, 1969. He is the son of William R. Bauer and Saundrea Jill Bauer, and is a graduate of Irmo High School and the University of South Carolina.
Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1996, Bauer gained a reputation for hard work and tireless constituent service. In 1999, Bauer was elected to the South Carolina State Senate in a special election. He was re-elected in the 2000 General Election and served in the Senate until his inauguration.
As Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Bauer is in the unique position of being part of both the Executive and Legislative Branches of state government. In fact, during his two years of presiding over the Senate, Mr. Bauer has ruled nearly $1 billion in tax increases out of order, staying true to his conservative values while looking out for the best interests of all South Carolinians.
Mr. Bauer also strives to maintain an open door policy to effectuate a more accessible, hands-on government that is appreciated by the citizens of the state. Additionally, in July of 2004, the Lieutenant Governor's office assumed direction of the State Bureau of Senior Services, renaming it the Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging. This move gives South Carolina seniors another prominent voice in government and allows for more accountability in the office.
The Lieutenant Governor has also worked rigorously to make South Carolina a greater competitor in the global market, leading economic development delegations abroad in his effort to increase economic growth opportunities for the Palmetto State.
His ongoing commitment to the needs of the citizens is further evidenced by his strong support of military families through his endorsement of The Military Relief Fund, which offers financial assistance to Reservist and Guardsmen's families called to active duty as a result of the war on terrorism. Bauer is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the South Carolina Civil Air Patrol.
Bauer has served his community as a Junior Achievement teacher and is a member of the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, the Lake Murray Tourism and Recreation Association, American Diabetes Association, the Columbia Visitor's Bureau, the S. C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce and the Sons of the American Revolution. In 2001, Bauer was recognized as Alumnus of the Year for the University of South Carolina College of Applied Professional Science. Bauer is a member of Union Methodist Church. |