Governor Hodges Considered as Possible Contender for Kerry Cabinet
September 21, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C.— According to an article recently released by The Associated Press, Governor Jim Hodges could be a possible candidate for U.S. Education Secretary in a John Kerry administration.

As the 114th governor of South Carolina, Hodges focused on improving the quality of education. As a result, the state saw many improvements including the creation of First Steps, a "public-private" pre-school readiness program impacting tens of thousands of preschoolers, an education lottery that today provides college scholarships for more than 100,000 students, and increased construction resources resulting in new school building improvements all across the state .

Today, as CEO of Hodges Consulting Group, Hodges continues his involvement with education by providing guidance and support to education groups on legislative matters, funding issues, strategic planning and special events.

Hodges Consulting Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P., specializes in providing clients with comprehensive advice and solutions for their government relations and business development needs. With offices in Columbia, Charlotte and Raleigh, the Group offers a depth of experience and vast knowledge of government to clients in various industries including public and higher education, financial services, government cost savings, healthcare, insurance, privatization, real estate and telecommunications.

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