Jim Lander
37th Comptroller General of South Carolina
In office
January 1999 – January 2003
Preceded byEarle Morris Jr.
Succeeded byRichard Eckstrom
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 18th district
In office
January 1993 – January 1999
Preceded byThomas H. Pope
Succeeded byAndré Bauer
Personal details
Born(1930-04-09)April 9, 1930
Abbeville, South Carolina
DiedOctober 29, 2020(2020-10-29) (aged 90)
Newberry, South Carolina
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materLander University
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Unit South Carolina Army National Guard

James Albert Lander (April 9, 1930 – October 29, 2020) was an American politician. He sat on the South Carolina Senate between 1993 and 1999, then became Comptroller General of South Carolina until 2003.

Early life and military career

Lander was from Abbeville, South Carolina. He served on the Abbeville City Council in 1952[1] and was a member of the class of 1953 at Erskine College. Lander left Erskine without graduating to serve in the South Carolina Army National Guard (SCANG). Lander was on active duty from 1966 through 1971, and served tours of duty in Korea and Vietnam. He became chief of staff of the SCANG, retiring in 1985.[2]

In 1986, Lander completed his bachelor's degree at Lander University, which was named for his great-grandfather.[2] He then joined the South Carolina State Guard and retired as a major general in 1991.[1] During his military career, Lander received the Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Order of the Palmetto.[3]

Political career

Lander ran for the 40th district seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1988, challenging incumbent Dave Waldrop Jr. in the Democratic Party primary election.[4] He lost the election to Waldrop.[5] Lander challenged Waldrop again in 1990, and lost again.[6]

After Thomas H. Pope announced he would not seek reelection for the District 18 seat in the South Carolina Senate in the 1992 elections, Lander declared his candidacy to succeed him.[7] Lander won the election.[8] He was reelected in 1996.[9]

In 1998, Lander ran for Comptroller General of South Carolina, as the incumbent, Earle Morris Jr., opted to retire.[10] He won the election, defeating John Courson.[11] He lost reelection in 2002 to Richard Eckstrom.[12] The next year, Lander ran in the special election for the state senate seat for the 18th district vacated by André Bauer, who resigned after being elected Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.[13] He won the Democratic nomination,[14] but lost to Republican Ronnie Cromer.[15]

Personal life

Lander and his wife, Jolene, married on June 8, 1952. They have seven children and lived in Newberry, South Carolina.[16] He died on October 29, 2020, in Newberry at age 90.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 Reynolds, Steven (May 8, 2000). "It's a homecoming, family reunion for Jim Lander". The Index-Journal. p. 1A. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 "Jim Lander: Takes dip into his past at Erskine". The Index-Journal. March 18, 2001. p. 2D. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  3. ↑ "PMA honors Shackelford, Lander". Newberry Observer. August 28, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  4. ↑ Ladson, Sheon (March 31, 1988). "Newberry Democrats end filing for state, county seats". The Greenville News. p. 2C. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  5. ↑ "Incumbents do well in state primaries". The Greenville News. June 15, 1988. p. 3C. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Fox, William (June 13, 1990). "Voters oust Rep. McLellan after 13 years". The Greenville News. p. 9A. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  7. ↑ Moorefield-Lucas, April (August 16, 1992). "Newberry to choose primary nominees for Senate District 18". The Greenville News. p. 7B. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  8. ↑ "Newberry County". The Greenville News. November 4, 1992. p. 3C. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  9. ↑ Moorefield, April E. (November 8, 1996). "Waldrop, 2 other incumbents lose in Newberry vote". The Greenville News. p. 2D. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  10. ↑ "For first time since 1976, Earle Morris not on ballot". The Index-Journal. Associated Press. November 1, 1998. p. 7. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  11. ↑ Strope, Leigh (November 5, 1998). "Candidates edgy waiting on tally: Some final tabulations hours late". The Charlotte Observer. Associated Press. p. 4Y. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  12. ↑ Rees, Chris (November 6, 2002). "Eckstrom (R) upsets incumbent Lander (D) for Comptroller General". WISTV. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Lander, Cromer to vie for state Senate 18 seat". The Index-Journal. Associated Press. February 26, 2003. p. 2A. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  14. ↑ Hollinshead, Maya (April 13, 2003). "Three compete for state Senate seat". The Index-Journal. p. 2A. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  15. ↑ "Republican Cromer wins Senate District 18 seat". The Index-Journal. Associated Press. April 16, 2003. p. 1A. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  16. ↑ "Anniversaries: Mr. & Mrs. James A. Lander". The Greenville News. July 14, 2002. p. 4D. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  17. ↑ "Former SC Comptroller General Lander dies at 90". Wistv.com. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
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