KINGSTREE — Williamsburg County Sheriff Kelvin Washington is one step closer to becoming the top federal law enforcement agent in the state after a U.S. Senate judiciary committee voted Thursday to move his nomination for U.S. Marshal for the District of South Carolina to the Senate for consideration.
Washington was nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama in December to serve as U.S. Marshal for the state.
A U.S. Senate judiciary committee voted unanimously Thursday to move the matter to the Senate floor for consideration, Washington said Friday.
The Senate, in turn, must vote to confirm the nomination.
After a confirmation from the Senate, the process will be completed by a signature from Obama, Washington said.
“I’m excited, but it’s bittersweet,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of friends, supporters and staff here (in Williamsburg County) that I’ll miss. I will remain a part of the community as much as possible.”
If confirmed, Washington would become the 11th Marshal since the merging of the districts in 1965, succeeding U.S. Marshal Johnny Mack Brown, a native of Greenville who was nominated by President George W. Bush in 2002.
A replacement for Washington as Williamsburg County sheriff would have to be appointed by Gov. Mark Sanford.
Washington, a Hemingway native, began his law enforcement career in 1990 at the Florence Police Department. He joined the Williamsburg County Sheriff’s Office in 1993 and was elected sheriff in 1998, running as a Democrat. He also served as president of the S.C. Sheriff’s Association for 2007-08.
Washington holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from American Intercontinental University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University. He has been an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Charleston Southern University since 2008 and has served as an adjunct professor at Horry-Georgetown Technical College since 2007, according to a press release issued by the White House.
Washington lives in Hemingway with his wife, Patricia Washington, and their three children, Courtney and twins Kelvin Jr. and Kelsey.
Marshaling the U.S. District is a job steeped in history. Established in 1789, the state was divided into two entities, the Eastern and Western districts, in 1823 after action by the U.S. Congress. In 1965, the Eastern and Western districts were once again joined and became what we know as the District of South Carolina today. Since 1965, there have been 10 Marshals assigned to the post.
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