"To whom much is given, much shall be required."

Thirty- nine- year- old Boyd Summers learned this lesson, found in the Gospel of Luke, from his politically active family during his youth. And it's a lesson he recalls daily in his service as Richland County Democratic Party Chairman and in the professional world.

Since receiving his masters degree in public administration from USC in 1995, Summers has been an active public servant as a member of the Columbia Rotary Club, Shandon Presbyterian Church, and a handful of other community organizations. He now builds his community as a brokerage associate at the real estate firm, Colliers Keenan where he also serves as a member of the local, state, and national realtors' associations.

But Summers' interest in politics began when he was a boy growing up in Columbia, where he spent his free time flipping through an encyclopedia of U.S. presidents. His father, a director for the Academy for Pastoral Education at S.C.'s Mental Health Department, and his grandfather, a former judge in Orangeburg County, are two heroes who instilled in him the importance of giving back to the community.

But the 2002 U. S. Senate race sparked Summers' professional interest in politics. After the race he decided to run against incumbent James Harrison (R- Columbia) in 2006 for the S. C. House of Representatives. Harrison won by approximately 900 votes.

Summers may run for public office again if the opportunity presents itself. "I think I have public service in my blood," says Summers.

But serving public servants is another central idea Summers is committed to. Using the Obama campaign's grass roots approach as a model, Summers hopes to empower the party's volunteers to drive the party to success. To have a system in place for the 2010 "Get Out the Vote" drive where party officers and elected officials empower volunteers to boost voter turnout is one of Summers' goals.

Summers is optimistic about reaching voters from across the political spectrum. A focus on economic development and public education is key to reaching these voters, some of whom feel disenfranchised from the Republican Party. But Summers says Democrats have an opportunity to offer clear vision for a path to prosperity in the state. He says prosperity can be found through a commitment to recruiting industry, to education, and to looking past an old Southern mentality of the political realm.

Looking ahead to prosperity in S. C., Summers will continue to impress upon public servants in the Democratic Party the value of their service. To follow the Richland County Democratic Party, visit www.richlanddemocrats. com.