BIOGRAPHY
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A Career of Service
John Samuel West was born in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. He is 50 years old. John is the third of four children. His parents are Norman and Marjorie West of Moncks Corner. John's father is a retired attorney and his mother is a retired legal secretary. Norman West practiced law in Moncks Corner for almost 50 years. He served in the S.C. House of Representatives from 1960-1970. Mr. West also served on the S.C. Highway Commission.
In 1977, John married Priscilla Cloaninger of Moncks Corner. Priscilla is a 1979 graduate of Columbia College and a 1981 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Masters in Education. Priscilla taught in the public schools of Berkeley County until her retirement in 2004. John and Priscilla are the parents of six children: Claire (24), Marshall (21), Cam (21), Mason (20), Connor (17) and Cooper (14), all of whom have been educated or are being educated in the public schools of Berkeley County.
John attended Berkeley County public schools and graduated from Berkeley High School in 1975. After high school, John attended the University of South Carolina where he received his B.A. degree in Political Science and History in 1978. After taking several graduate courses in Public Administration during the spring of 1979, John entered law school in the fall of 1979. He received his Juris Doctor degree from USC School of Law in 1982.
During his college years in Columbia, John served in a variety of capacities in the Senate offices of the late Marshall B. Williams of Orangeburg. In 1982, John was named Director of Research and Administration and Counsel to the S.C. Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, chaired by Senator Williams.
In 1983, John resigned his position with the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee to begin full time private law practice with his father in Moncks Corner. From 1983-1990, John and his father practiced law in the State and Federal Courts of South Carolina representing a broad and diverse clientele. During this period, John also served in a variety of appointed positions, including Moncks Corner Municipal Judge (1984-1986) and Moncks Corner City Attorney (1987-1990).
In 1990, John left private law practice to accept a position with the South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) as corporate counsel. In 1995, John was appointed by the President of Santee Cooper to the position of Vice President, Property and Legal Services. In 2000, John was appointed by the Santee Cooper Board of Directors to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. John retired from Santee Cooper in December 2004 and returned to full-time private practice of law in Moncks Corner, where he concentrates on business, real estate and alternative dispute resolution matters.
In February 1993, John was elected Mayor of Moncks Corner in a special election. John served as Moncks Corner's Mayor until his term expired in January 1996. During John’s tenure as Mayor of Moncks Corner, his administration focused on beautification and infrastructure improvements and strong constituent service.
Over the years since John's return to Moncks Corner in 1983, he has served in a number of volunteer posts and assignments in public education related activities (e.g. School Improvement Council, Board of Directors of Berkeley Academic Booster Club, miscellaneous advisory committees). John is a Charter Board Member of the Berkeley County Foundation for Education. He has been the non-profit's Chairman since 2000. He has been very active in Moncks Corner recreation programs and other local youth-oriented activities, coaching at various levels. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Berkeley County, and as a member of the Board of Visitors of Charleston Southern University, as well as a number of other civic causes. John is a member of the American, State and Berkeley County Bar Associations.
John is a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Moncks Corner where he has served as an adult Sunday School teacher for over 20 years.
John is a published author having written a book entitled "By The Way," an historical fiction about his beloved Berkeley County.
John also serves on the board of the Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust. An avid outdoorsman, John and his boys hunt, fish and farm for wildlife on a small family farm in Jamestown, South Carolina.
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