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Tom Corbin

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Tom Corbin

| honorific-suffix =

| image =

| alt =

| caption = Tom Corbin at a SC Senate Meeting

| state_senate = South Carolina

| district = 5th

| term_start = 2012

| term_end =

| predecessor = Phillip Shoopman

| successor =

| prior_term =

| state_house1 = South Carolina

| district1 = 17th

| term_start1 = 2010

| term_end1 = 2012

| predecessor1 = Harry Cato

| successor1 = Mike Burns

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|01|11}}

| birth_place = Greenville, South Carolina, US

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = {{marriage|Leann Robertson|2012}}

| children = 2

| profession = Businessman

| alma_mater = Clemson University (B.S., 1987)

| party = Republican

| module =

}}

Thomas D. Corbin (born January 11, 1965) is an American businessman and politician. Since 2012, he has served as a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 5th District. Prior to that, he served for two years as a member in the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 17th District. He is a member of the Republican party.

Early life and education

Tom Corbin was born on January 11, 1965, in Greenville, South Carolina to Barbee and Gail McCarty Corbin. He attended Clemson University, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in ornamental horticulture.

S.C. House of Representatives (2010-2012)

Corbin was first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2010 when he defeated Republican incumbent Harry Cato, who was seeking an eleventh term.{{cite web |date=31 March 2010 |title=Let the (election) season begin |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/news/let-the-election-season-begin/ |accessdate=8 September 2020 |website=Greenville Journal}}

After serving his first term, Corbin ran for reelection in the House uncontested. After Corbin qualified for the general election, it was announced that incumbent State Sen. Phillip Shoopman would step down, leaving the seat open. As a result, Corbin ran concurrently in both races.{{Cite web |last=Doughman |first=Andrew |date=2012-04-16 |title=Sen. Shoopman not seeking re-election; SC GOP re-opens filing for seat |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2012/04/16/sen-shoopman-not-seeking-re-election-sc-gop-re-opens-filing-for-seat/29990930007/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Spartanburg Herald Journal |language=en-US}} After winning both races, Corbin resigned his House seat, triggering a special election that was won by Mike Burns.{{cite web |title=Burns files for House District 17 special election |url=http://greertoday.com/greer-sc/burns-files-for-house-district-17-special-election/2012/11/30/ |accessdate=8 September 2020 |website=GreerToday.com}}

S.C. Senate

Since 2012, Corbin has represented South Carolina's 5th Senate district covering parts of Greenville and Spartanburg Counties. He was elected after Republican Phillip Shoopman announced he would not seek re-election.

Corbin formerly served on the Senate's general and judiciary committees, and currently serves on the finance; fish, game and forestry; labor, commerce and industry; medical affairs; and rules committees, as well as serving on the subcommittee on natural resources and the transportation and regulatory subcommittee.{{cite web |title=The Voter's Self Defense System |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/121705/tom-corbin |accessdate=June 3, 2020 |website=Vote Smart}}

Corbin is a conservative and a member of the Republican Party. As of 2018, he holds a 54% lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union.{{cite web |title=2018 Ratings of South Carolina |url=http://acuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/10/South-Carolina_2018_web-1.pdf |accessdate=8 September 2020 |publisher=American Conservative Union Foundation}} As is listed on his 2020 campaign website, Corbin is pro-life, and supports gun rights, lowering taxes, and cutting government spending.{{cite web |title=Platform {{!}} Tom Corbin for State Senate |url=https://www.senatorcorbin.com/platform |accessdate=8 September 2020 |website=www.senatorcorbin.com |language=en}}

Political positions

=Marijuana=

Tom Corbin has an "F" rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) for his voting history regarding cannabis-related causes.https://vote.norml.org/politicians/121705

Corbin has generally been against the legalization of medicinal marijuana, consistently voting against advancing the legislation out of sub-committees and committees he sits on.{{Cite web |last= |date=June 9, 2020 |title=South Carolina Senate Medical Cannabis Voter Guide |url=https://www.mpp.org/assets/pdf/states/south-carolina/south-carolina-senate-medical-cannabis-voter-guide.pdf |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=Marijuana Policy Project}}{{Cite news |last=Wilkinson |first=Jeff |date=March 20, 2019 |title=Medical marijuana advances in SC Senate |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article228172059.html |access-date=April 21, 2024 |work=The State}}{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Kirk |date=March 29, 2018 |title=Medical marijuana bill advances in SC but has little chance to pass this year |url=https://www.independentmail.com/story/news/local/2018/03/29/s-c-medical-marijuana-bill-advances-but-has-little-chance-passage-year/469403002/ |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=Independent Mail |language=en-US}} In a new round of legalization proposals in 2024, Corbin got the senate to adopt his amendment that would allow landlords and property owners to prohibit vaping cannabis products in their homes.{{Cite web |last=Brams |first=Sophie |date=2024-02-07 |title=Medical marijuana bill under consideration again in South Carolina |url=https://www.counton2.com/news/south-carolina-news/medical-marijuana-bill-under-consideration-again-in-south-carolina/ |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=WCBD News 2 |language=en-US}}

Controversy

Corbin has been involved in controversy regarding comments he has made about women. In 2015, in a comment directed at South Carolina Sen. Katrina Shealy, the lone female senator at the time, Corbin said, "Well, you know God created man first. Then he took the rib out of man to make woman. And you know, a rib is a lesser cut of meat." Corbin later apologized, claiming that the comment was made "in jest", and that Shealy "chose to be offended and make a big deal out of all this".{{cite web |title='A lesser cut of meat'? |url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/lesser-cut-meat |website=MSNBC |accessdate=8 September 2020 |date=20 February 2015}} Although accepting his apology, Shealy later responded that "whether the person speaking them thinks they are in jest or not, these words are hurtful and disrespectful."

Corbin has also allegedly remarked that women "do not belong in the South Carolina General Assembly", but rather "at home baking cookies" or "barefoot and pregnant".{{cite web |last1=Matney |first1=Mandy |title=SC Senator Known For Calling Women 'A Lesser Cut Of Meat' Won Primary |url=https://www.fitsnews.com/2020/06/10/sc-senator-known-for-calling-women-a-lesser-cut-of-meat-won-primary/ |website=FitsNews |accessdate=June 13, 2020 |date=June 10, 2020}}

Personal life

Corbin is married to Leann Robertson, with whom he has two children.{{cite web |title=South Carolina Legislature Online – Member Biography |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0402272679 |accessdate=June 3, 2020 |website=www.scstatehouse.gov}} The family currently resides in Travelers Rest. Corbin is a Baptist, and serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Clearview Baptist Church. He has served as vice president and president of the Burban Creek Plantation, a hunting reserve located in Taylors, South Carolina.

Electoral history

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center;"
style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Year

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Office

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Type

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Main opponent

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=4 | Votes for Corbin

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Result

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Swing

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Ref.

style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | Total

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | %

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | {{abbr|2=Position|P}}.

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | {{tooltip|2=Change in percentage value since previous election|±%}}

rowspan=2 style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2010

| rowspan=3 | S.C. Representative

| Rep. primary

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| Harry Cato{{efn|Incumbent seeking re-election.}}

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| 3,379

| 59.46%

| 1st

| N/A

| {{yes2|Won}}

| colspan=2 | N/A

|{{cite web |date=June 9, 2010 |title=SC House top officer, 2 other GOP members lose |url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/sc-house-top-officer-2-other-gop-members-lose/275-374365822 |accessdate=8 September 2020 |website=wcnc.com}}{{Cite web |date=2010-06-22 |title=South Carolina 2010 Republican and Democratic Primary: State House of Representatives District 17 - REP |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/16117/28318/en/md.html?cid=116 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

General

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| Stephen Salter

| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

| Democratic

| 8,817

| 81.38%

| 1st

| N/A

| {{yes2|Won}}

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Hold

|{{Cite web |date=2010-11-18 |title=South Carolina 2010 General Election: State House of Representatives District 17 |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/19077/40477/en/md.html?cid=265 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

rowspan=3 style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2012

| General

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| Write-in

| colspan=2 | N/A

| 13,137

| 98.74%

| 1st

| +39.28%

| {{yes2|Won}}

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Hold

|{{Cite web |date=2013-04-09 |title=South Carolina 2012 General Election: State House of Representatives District 17 |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/42513/116143/en/md.html?cid=1250 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

rowspan=6 | S.C. Senator

| Rep. primary

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| Amanda Tieder Somers

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| 3,050

| 65.37%

| 1st

| N/A

| {{yes2|Won}}

| colspan=2 | N/A

| {{Cite web |date=2012-07-31 |title=South Carolina 2012 Republican and Democratic Primary: State Senate District 5 - REP |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/39142/93326/en/md.html?cid=145 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

General

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| Write-in

| colspan=2 | N/A

| 33,491

| 98.80%

| 1st

| N/A

| {{yes2|Won}}

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Hold

|{{Cite web |date=2013-04-09 |title=South Carolina 2012 General Election: State Senate District 5 |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/42513/116143/en/md.html?cid=710 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

rowspan=2 style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2016

| Rep. primary

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| John B. White

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| 5,442

| 51.54%

| 1st

| -13.83%

| {{yes2|Won}}

| colspan=2 | N/A

| {{cite web |last1=Fair |first1=Jim |title=Tom Corbin edges John White by 321 votes in Senate District 5 race |url=https://greertoday.com/greer-sc/tom-corbin-edges-john-white-by-321-votes-in-senate-district-5-race/2016/06/15/ |accessdate=8 September 2020 |website=GreerToday.com}}{{Cite web |date=2016-07-26 |title=South Carolina 2016 Republican and Democratic Primary: State Senate, District 5 - REP |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/62359/173759/en/md.html?cid=27511 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

General

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| Write-in

| colspan=2 | N/A

| 39,364

| 98.89%

| 1st

| +0.09%

| {{yes2|Won}}

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Hold

|{{cite web |title=Candidate Listing |url=https://info.scvotes.sc.gov/Eng/Candidate/CandidateSearch.aspx?ElectionId=20026&QSHelperHash=8665765C53B5B7B5B0C52FEEDD145CD792A4A273 |accessdate=8 September 2020 |website=info.scvotes.sc.gov}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-01 |title=South Carolina 2016 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 5 |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/64658/316617/en/md.html?cid=27510 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

rowspan=2 style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2020

| Rep. primary

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| Dave Edwards

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| 9,254

| 70.37%

| 1st

| +18.83%

| {{yes2|Won}}

| colspan=2 | N/A

| {{cite web |last1=Cary |first1=Nathaniel |title=Rep. Bill Chumley, Chris Bennett in runoff in House District 35. Other incumbents sweep |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/10/rep-bill-chumley-faces-runoff-chris-bennett-house-district-35/5328006002/ |accessdate=8 September 2020 |website=The Greenville News}}{{Cite web |date=2020-06-12 |title=South Carolina 2020 Statewide Primaries: State Senate, District 5 - REP |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/103402/Web02-state.250556/#/cid/27511 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

General

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Republican

| Michael McCord

| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |

| Democratic

| 44,808

| 76.13%

| 1st

| -22.76%

| {{yes2|Won}}

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |

| Hold

|{{Cite web |date=2021-06-30 |title=South Carolina 2020 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 5 |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/106502/Web02-state.264691/#/cid/27510?undefined |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=South Carolina Election Commission}}

Notes

{{noteslist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.senatorcorbin.com/ Tom Corbin for State Senate]
  • [https://openstates.org/person/thomas-d-tom-corbin-18KGLeYh8LQCToLVfYoMyp/ Thomas D. "Tom" Corbin – South Carolina Senator – Open States]

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-sc-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Harry Cato}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 17th district|years=2010–2012}}

{{s-aft|after=Mike Burns}}

|-

{{s-par|us-sc-sen}}

{{s-bef|before=Phillip Shoopman}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 5th district|years=2012–present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-end}}

{{South Carolina State Senators}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Corbin, Tom}}

Category:1965 births

Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party South Carolina state senators

Category:Clemson University alumni

Category:Politicians from Greenville, South Carolina

Category:People from Travelers Rest, South Carolina

Category:Baptists from South Carolina

Category:21st-century Baptists

Category:Businesspeople from South Carolina

Category:Cannabis prohibition

Category:Republican Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly

Category:21st-century American businesspeople