Staff Writer

The City of Union has its first female candidate for mayor.

Computer specialist and small business owner Marsha Jordan Hathcock said she is joining the field of what is now 13 write-in candidates.

“In 2001, I moved my family and my business back to Union with the intention to be here for the rest of my life," said Mrs. Hathcock, who is an East Main Street resident. "Through active involvement in business-, school-, and community-related activities, I have worked to improve the quality of life in the City of Union and Union County. While working in these areas, I have been surprised at how difficult it can be to get the answers needed to solve problems and conduct business."

Mrs. Hathcock said that the City of Union should be operated as a business.

"As mayor, I will ask citizens and small business owners in the City of Union to work with me to develop a strategic plan for the city that can sustain itself regardless of who is in office," she said. "We must establish an open government that allows all stakeholders in our future to fully participate. Citizens, local business owners, city officials and employees of the City of Union must work together to strengthen and support the businesses and organizations that are vital to our quality of life as we seek opportunities to grow and prosper. Communicating our goals must be a part of our plan while maintaining close working relationships with Union County and regional organizations."

The mayor's office has been vacant since Bruce Morgan resigned on July 17. That same day, he and building and zoning director Jeff Lawson were indicted on federal extortion charges. They both have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Morgan was unopposed for re-election and his resignation came after the close of the election filing period. State law does not allow the filing period to be reopened, so the new mayor will be decided by write-in vote.

Mrs. Hathcock grew up in Union and graduated from Union High School in 1983. She holds a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the University of South Carolina. Her professional career started at the Savannah River Site in Aiken where she was a computer security specialist, support specialist, trainer and a member of the Emergency Response Team. She was the PC and network administrator for ClubCar, a manufacturing facility in Augusta, Ga., and was a technology specialist for a Regional Educational Services Agency in Georgia. In 1997, Mrs. Hathcock started her own business providing technology consulting services to small businesses in the Augusta area. In 2001, she moved back to Union to fill an unexpected vacancy at Union High's Vocational School teaching Electronics and Computer Networking. She re-established her business in Union at that time. In 2006, she became Technology Specialist for the Union County Carnegie Library. She and her husband, Ray, continue to own and operate Professional Help Computer Services in Union, providing computer support and repair services to business clients and home computer users.

The Hathcocks have three children: Austin, 19 a student at USC-Union; Morgan, 14, a Union County High School student; and Ann Jordan, 9, a student at Foster Park Elementary School.

Since returning to Union, Mrs. Hathcock has served on the School Improvement Councils and PTA at Foster Park Elementary and Sims Junior High School, the Graphic Arts Advisory Board at the Union County Career and Technology Center (Vocational School). She now serves on the Union County School District's Gifted and Talented Program Planning Committee. She is a member of the Leadership Union Class of 2006 and served on the Upstate Career Awareness Task Force for the Upstate Workforce Investment Board. She joined the board for Boogaloo Folklife Productions in 2007 and is a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Union.