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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Richard L. "Richie" Yow is a Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 53. He was first elected to the chamber in 2014.

Yow's professional experience includes serving in the U.S. Air Force and as a member of the Air National Guard.

Education

  • Attended, Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • Attended, The War College (SEJPME)
  • Attended, United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration Safety School
  • Graduated, Engineering Infrastructure, Community College of the Air Force

Professional Experience

  • Attended, Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • Attended, The War College (SEJPME)
  • Attended, United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration Safety School
  • Graduated, Engineering Infrastructure, Community College of the Air Force
  • Served, North Carolina Air National Guard, 2004-2009, 2012-2014
  • Served, Virginia Air National Guard, 2009-2011
  • Served, South Carolina Air National Guard, 1995-2003
  • Served, United States Air Force, 1992-1995

Political Experience

  • Attended, Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • Attended, The War College (SEJPME)
  • Attended, United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration Safety School
  • Graduated, Engineering Infrastructure, Community College of the Air Force
  • Served, North Carolina Air National Guard, 2004-2009, 2012-2014
  • Served, Virginia Air National Guard, 2009-2011
  • Served, South Carolina Air National Guard, 1995-2003
  • Served, United States Air Force, 1992-1995
  • Representative, South Carolina State House of Representatives, District 53, 2014-present
  • Candidate, South Carolina House of Representatives, District 53, 2012, 2020

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former First Vice Chair, Interstate Cooperation Committee, South Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, South Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Chair, Subcommittee on Local Government and Corrections Affairs, South Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on Military and Public Affairs, South Carolina State House of Representatives

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Education and Public Works Committee

Second Vice Chair, Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Committee

Member, South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority Committee

Member, Subcommittee on K-12

Member, Subcommittee on Motor Vehicles

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attended, Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • Attended, The War College (SEJPME)
  • Attended, United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration Safety School
  • Graduated, Engineering Infrastructure, Community College of the Air Force
  • Served, North Carolina Air National Guard, 2004-2009, 2012-2014
  • Served, Virginia Air National Guard, 2009-2011
  • Served, South Carolina Air National Guard, 1995-2003
  • Served, United States Air Force, 1992-1995
  • Representative, South Carolina State House of Representatives, District 53, 2014-present
  • Candidate, South Carolina House of Representatives, District 53, 2012, 2020
  • Member, American Legion, present
  • Chair, McLeod Health Cheraw, Chaplain Board, present
  • Member, National Guard Association, present
  • Member, National Rifle Association, present
  • Member, National Wild Turkey Federation, present
  • Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), present
  • Chair, 5th Congressional District, Grand Old Party (GOP)
  • Member, Disabled Veterans Association
  • Member, Lower Macedonia Baptist Church

Other Info

— Awards:

  • *South Carolina Meritorious Service Award
  • *South Carolina Palmetto Service Award
  • *USAF Commendation Award
  • *Louisiana Emergency Service Award
  • *NCNG Achievement Award
  • *6 USAF Achievement Awards
  • *2 USAF Outstanding Unit Awards with Valor Device
  • *6 USAFR Forces Meritorious Service Award
  • *National Defense Service Award
  • *2 Southwest Asia Service Awards
  • *USAF Overseas Short Tour Ribbon
  • *2 USAF Longevity Service Awards
  • *2 Armed Forces Reserve Awards
  • *Lower Macedonia Baptist Church Father of the Year

  • Ricky Yow

First Job:

Pee Dee Farm

  • Judy Jones Yow

Policy Positions

South Carolina State Legislative Election 2014 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- No

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- No Answer

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- No Answer

5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- Yes

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

State Spending:

Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- No Answer

2. Education (K-12)
- No Answer

3. Environment
- No Answer

4. Health care
- No Answer

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- No Answer

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- No Answer

7. Welfare
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes:

Using the key, indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- No Answer

2. Cigarette taxes
- No Answer

3. Corporate taxes
- No Answer

4. Gas/Oil taxes
- No Answer

5. Property taxes
- No Answer

6. Sales taxes
- No Answer

7. Income taxes (low-income families)
- No Answer

8. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- No Answer

9. Income taxes (high-income families)
- No Answer

10. Do you support eliminating South Carolina's income tax?
- No Answer

11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing South Carolina's budget.

1. Tapping into South Carolina's "rainy day" fund
- No Answer

2. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
- No

3. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- No Answer

4. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- No Answer

3. Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- No Answer

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No Answer

5. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
- No Answer

6. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- No Answer

3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No Answer

4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- No Answer

5. Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No Answer

6. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- No Answer

7. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No Answer

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- No Answer

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- No Answer

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- No Answer

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No Answer

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- No Answer

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from South Carolina high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
- No Answer

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- No Answer

3. Do you support state funding for improvements to South Carolina's energy infrastructure?
- No Answer

4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- No Answer

5. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No Answer

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- No Answer

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- No Answer

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- No Answer

4. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act?
- No Answer

5. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No Answer

6. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- No Answer

7. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- No Answer

2. Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
- No Answer

3. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in South Carolina's anti-discrimination laws?
- No Answer

4. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in South Carolina's anti-discrimination laws?
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, on an attached page, or via e-mail, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- No Answer

Speeches

Issue Position: Education

Jan. 1, 2018Other
Events

2019

Apr. 13
K

Sat 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CDT