Who is Catherine Ceips?

Published Sun, Jun 17, 2007

By GINNY SKALSKI

BLUFFTON — At first glance, the grocery list jotted on a chalkboard in Catherine Ceips’ kitchen seems to point to the needs of a fairly ordinary household.

paper towels, kitchen trash bags, beer/vino

Then, “criminal defense attorneys.”

That made the list because the group opposed a DNA testing bill she introduced.

Ceips has represented Beaufort in the state House of Representatives since 2003.

It’s easy to tell a lawmaker occupies the historic Bay Street home overlooking the Beaufort River. The mail bins on the floor are filled with postcards asking voters to support her bid for state Senate and the tabletops are covered with stacks of campaign literature and stamps.

Ceips, a Republican, ran for the House post at the urging of several friends after Edie Rodgers retired. She had government experience handling constituent requests for the late U.S. Rep. Floyd Spence and Rep. Joe Wilson.

She has made constituent service the cornerstone of her campaign for Senate.

“I think it’s the most important part of the job,” she said.

Ceips says she wants to step up into the Senate to serve more people and sit on more committees. She regularly fields calls from residents with problems, from the serious to the seemingly frivolous.

A woman once called asking Ceips’ help in getting her son to stop calling 1-900 numbers. When Ceips realized the woman was serious, she urged the woman to sternly tell him to stop.

More recently, a Beaufort pharmacist called to see if she could help his grandson get on disability. Armed with a legal pad and pen, Ceips listened intently to the family’s troubles with the system, scribbling notes and asking questions.

Within hours, she arranged for a state worker to contact the family and figure out what was accounting for the delay.

“What I try to do is help people with their problems,” Ceips said. “Sometimes the government is difficult to deal with.”

If she wins, she will become one of two women in the state Senate. The other, Linda Short, D-Chester, plans to retire at the end of her term next year.

“I don’t consider it a shoo-in because I never take the voters for granted,” she said.

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