R. André Bauer (born March 20, 1969) is an American politician who has been the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina since 2003. At 36, he is currently the youngest Lieutenant Governor in the United States. Mr. Bauer is a member of the Republican Party.
Biography
State Senator André Bauer (R-Lexington) was inaugurated as South Carolina's 84th Lieutenant Governor on January 15, 2003, after soundly defeating fellow State Senator Phil Leventis (D-Sumter) in the 2002 general election.
R. André 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 both Irmo High School and the University of South Carolina.
Bauer was immediately preceded in office by Lieutenant Governor Bob Peeler (R), who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Congressman Mark Sanford (R) for the 2002 Republican Gubernatorial Nomination. Sanford went on to defeat incumbent Governor Jim Hodges (D) that November.
Sanford and Bauer, though, have little to do with one another on a day-to-day basis, because, in South Carolina, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on completely seperate tickets. Many newspapers, such as The State, have publicly stated in op-ed pieces that the two men don't even like each other.
Before his election to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1996, young André Bauer was a self-employed businessman in the retail sector, selling sports merchandise to national franchise stores like Wal-Mart. In 1999, the popular Bauer was promoted by his constituency to the South Carolina State Senate in a special election. He was then re-elected in the 2000 general election and served in the State Senate until his inauguration.
Lieutenant Governor Bauer is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the South Carolina Civil Air Patrol. He has often been applauded by the media for his ardent support of military families while in office. In this capacity, Bauer proudly endorses The Military Relief Fund, which offers financial assistance to the families of Reservists and Guardsmen who have been called to active duty as a result of the Iraq War.
Bauer has also been a Junior Achievement teacher and is a current member of the following boards: Big_Brothers of Greater Columbia, the Lake Murray Tourism and Recreation Association, the 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 has never been married, nor does he have any children. He is, however, an active member of the Union Methodist Church.
"Conservative Values"
As Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Bauer serves in both the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch of state government. After serving his first two years as President of the State Senate, Mr. Bauer liked touted that he had ruled nearly $1 billion in tax increases out of order, staying true to what he believes are his "conservative values".
The Lieutenant Governor is also a strong believer in free-market capitalism. In late 2003, Bauer proposed to the corporate re-naming of state roads, parks, and monuments for a fee to be paid by the corporation. This idea was ignored by both the General Assembly and Governor Mark Sanford. Sanford, though, is used to ignoring the Lieutenant Governor. In early 2003, Governor Sanford was called out of state for a few days to join his Air Force Reserve unit. Bauer proceeded to argue that if the Governor was indeed leaving South Carolina, then the Lieutenant Governor should become the de facto "Acting Governor". Governor Sanford disagreed, and retained his power while stationed outside the state.
Office on Aging
Mr. Bauer's position is largely ceremonial. He has no real power or authority. But, in July of 2004, the Lieutenant Governor's office did assume direction of the State Bureau of Senior Services, renaming it the "Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging". This office is located in the Wilbur Smith building on Gervais Street in downtown Columbia.
Controversy in Office
In May 2003, Lieutenant Governor Bauer was pulled over by a Columbia police officer for speeding through downtown Columbia in midday traffic. After being pulled over, Bauer stepped out of his pick-up truck, slammed the driver's side door, and began approaching the arresting officer, loudly proclaiming that he was the Lieutenant Governor and that he was late for a meeting at the State House.
The young officer pulled his gun on Bauer. Bauer initially wanted to take the case to trial, but ended up just paying his speeding ticket.
In July of 2005, press accounts accused the Lieutenant Governor of using his political clout to achieve a significant profit whilst selling land to the state for a road project. Others involved were were State Senator Yancey McGill (D-Williamsburg), who sits on the Senate Transportation Committee, and S.C. Highway Commissioner John "Moot" Truluck.
Political Future
Bauer is challenged in his re-election fight in 2006. Mike Campbell, son of former Governor Carroll Campbell (R) and small buisnessman, has announced that he will challenge Bauer for the Republican nomination.
Using his highly respected father's connections, Campbell received the endorsement of former President George H.W. Bush. This endorsement, along with other old friends of Mike Campbell's father, appear to have had little impact on the race.
In response, Bauer has ironically portrayed himself as the underdog despite being an incumbent.