Marvin R. Pendarvis Explained

Marvin Rashad Pendarvis (born October 13, 1989) is an American politician who represented the 113th District (parts of Charleston County) in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2017 to 2024. He is a member of the Democratic Party.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Education, career and public service

Pendarvis attended Garrett Academy for Technology, a high school in North Charleston, where he was a wide receiver on the football team. He graduated in 2011 from the University of South Carolina with an undergraduate degree in political science, and in 2014 with a J.D. from the University's School of Law. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Pendarvis served on the North Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals from 2016-2017.^[4]

Pendarvis worked as an attorney in North Charleston for Pendarvis Law, LLC, as the attorney for the Dorchester County town of Ridgeville, South Carolina,^[5] and as a member of the legal team for the Charleston-based Racial Justice Network.^[6] He also had a backlog contract with the Ninth Circuit Public Defender's Office, which ended in 2022.^{[7] [8]}

South Carolina House of Representatives

2017

When long-time Democratic state legislator Jackson Seth Whipper resigned in August 2017 to become a magistrate judge in Charleston County, Pendarvis became a candidate for his seat in District 113. He ran against Angela M. Hanyak and Chris Collins in the Democratic primary. Pendarvis won with 79.9% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican Theron Sandy II of Pinehurst to win by 1,118 votes.

2018

Pendarvis was unopposed in the Democratic primary and general election.

2020

Pendarvis won his primary on June 9, 2020, and was unopposed in the general election on November 3. In June 2020, he hired his only major staffer, communications director, Jackson Hamilton. Pendarvis introduced legislation to reduce the high rate of evictions in South Carolina, working with advocacy groups on the issue.^{[9] [10] [11]}

2023

After the announcement that North Charleston Mayor Keith Sumney would not run for re-election, Pendarvis declined to run for the seat, expressing his decision to remain in the House of Representatives.^[12]

In March 2023, Pendarvis introduced a bill to create an independent redistricting commission to combat gerrymandering ^[13] .

2024

Pendarvis filed unopposed^[14] for re-election for the seat he occupied at the time.^[15]

Pendarvis resigned his seat on September 16, 2024.^[16] Because information did not come in time to remove Pendarvis' name from the ballot, a special election has been scheduled for March 25, 2025.^{[17] [18] [19]}

Charleston County School Board member Courtney Waters has announced her intention to run for the seat on November 7.^[20] Environmental scientist and South Carolina Democratic Party vice chair^[21] Michelle Brandt announced a run for the seat on November 22.^[22]

Committee assignments

• Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee
• Legislative Oversight

Election history

Year!!

Candidate	Votes	Pct		Candidate	Votes	Pct		Candidate	Votes	Pct
2017 Special Election Primary[23]				align="right"	804		79.9%				align="right"	120		11.9%				align="right"	82		8.2%
2017 Special Election[24]				align="right"	1,463		80.9%				align="right"	343		19%
2018 Primary[25]				align="right"
2018 General				align="right"	8,256		98.5%

Controversy

On May 17, 2024, Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty of the South Carolina Supreme Court released a decision to temporarily suspend Pendarvis' license to practice law, in connection with a lawsuit filed against him alleging legal malpractice and forgery.^{[26] [27] [28]} After the lawsuit was filed April 11, 2024,^[29] First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe requested an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). SLED confirmed the following day that it had begun an investigation into the matter.^[30]

On September 16, 2024, in a letter to House Speaker Murrell Smith, Pendarvis resigned his seat, effective immediately.^{[31] [32]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography . www.scstatehouse.gov . April 12, 2020.
2. Web site: Marvin R. Pendarvis - South Carolina Representative - Open States . openstates.org . April 12, 2020.
3. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System . Vote Smart . April 12, 2020.
4. Web site: South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography . 2024-10-30 . www.scstatehouse.gov.
5. News: Jacquot . Bryce . March 25, 2024 . Ridgeville police chief resigns amid decertification for license suspension since 2008 . April 12, 2024 . WCIV-TV.
6. News: Sockol . Matthew . June 28, 2023 . Racial Justice Network will represent family of SC man killed by Alabama deputies . April 12, 2024 . WCIV-TV.
7. Web site: Sabol . Blair . 2024-10-28 . Public defender’s office cut ties with suspended lawyer over client complaint . 2024-10-29 . WCSC-TV .
8. Web site: Owens . Liz . 2024-09-17 . I-TEAM: Uncovering old files in Denmark water lawsuit . 2024-10-29 . WRDW-TV . en.
9. Web site: 2020-10-01 . SC Rep. Pendarvis Embarks on The Dream to Reality Tour: Uncovering South Carolina's Eviction Crisis - The MinorityEye . 2024-10-30 . en-US.
10. Web site: Bowers . Paul . 2020-11-14 . Episode 13: Landlord problems . 2024-10-30 . Brutal South.
11. News: Holpuch . Amanda . 2020-08-30 . 'Our belongings were put out on the street': the Democrat drawing on experience to fight evictions . 2024-10-30 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
12. News: Dylan Leatherwood and . Patrick Phillips . March 12, 2023 . State Rep. Pendarvis won’t run in N. Charleston mayor’s race . WCSC % . March 13, 2023.
13. https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/4222.htm
14. News: Brack . Andy . April 1, 2024 . 80 candidates file for elections in Charleston County . April 12, 2024 . The Charleston City Paper.
15. News: March 20, 2024 . Rep. Pendarvis Files for Re-Election . April 12, 2024 . The Holy Sinner.
16. News: September 19, 2024 . Rep. Marvin Pendarvis resigns ahead of election amid SLED investigation . September 24, 2024 . WCSC.
17. Web site: Kenmore . Abraham . 2024-10-09 . Former SC legislator still technically running 3 weeks after resigning • SC Daily Gazette . 2024-10-30 . SC Daily Gazette . en-US.
18. Web site: 2024-11-07 . Date set for special election to replace Pendarvis in SC House District 113 . 2024-11-09 . WCBD News 2 . en-US.
19. Web site: Kenmore . Abraham . 2024-11-07 . After SC legislator resigned, he won anyway. Now a special election is set. • SC Daily Gazette . 2024-11-09 . SC Daily Gazette . en-US.
20. Web site: Staff . ABC News 4 . 2024-11-07 . Courtney Waters runs for South Carolina House seat vacated by Marvin Pendarvis . 2024-11-09 . WCIV . en.
21. Web site: SCDP Party Leadership . 2024-11-24 . South Carolina Democratic Party . en-US.
22. Web site: Kayanja . Ian . 2024-11-22 . Michelle Brandt files for S.C. House District 113 election with focus on family and safety . 2024-11-24 . WCIV . en.
23. Web site: State House of Representatives District 113 Democratic Primary . South Carolina Election Commission . Charleston and Dorchester Counties . April 12, 2020 .
24. Web site: State House of Representatives District 113 Special Election . South Carolina Election Commission . Charleston and Dorchester Counties . April 12, 2020 .
25. Web site: Marvin Pendarvis Biography . . April 12, 2020 .
26. News: Kayanja . Ian . May 17, 2024 . State Rep. Marvin Pendarvis' law license suspended after allegations of legal malpractice . May 17, 2024 . WCIV-TV.
27. News: May 17, 2024 . Democratic South Carolina House member has law license suspended after forgery complaint . May 17, 2024 . The Associated Press.
28. Web site: Hovorka . Alan . 2024-05-17 . North Charleston state lawmaker's law license suspended amid SLED investigation . 2024-10-30 . Post and Courier . en.
29. News: Steven Ardary . and Meredith Blair . April 11, 2024 . Lawsuit alleges State Rep. forged signature of client on settlement documents . May 17, 2024 . WCSC-TV.
30. News: Reynolds . Nick . April 12, 2024 . SLED launches criminal investigation into SC lawmaker accused of legal malpractice . May 17, 2024 . The Post and Courier.
31. Web site: Kenmore . Abraham . 2024-09-19 . State Rep. Marvin Pendarvis resigns amid accusations from a former client • SC Daily Gazette . 2024-10-29 . SC Daily Gazette . en-US.
32. Web site: Reynolds . Nick . 2024-09-19 . North Charleston state Rep. Marvin Pendarvis resigns amid criminal inquiry . 2024-10-29 . Post and Courier . en.