b'Paul Brawley:Confidence, Perseverance Lead to Historic VictoryBy Wendy C. BrawleyWhen Paul Brawley took the Oath of Office in 2007fathersawpublicserviceasawaytomakethings asthesixteenthAuditorforRichlandCountys,better for people. SouthCarolinascapitalcounty,hebecamethefirst African American ever elected to one of the countysIF AT FIRST YOU DONT SUCCEEDseven constitutional offices. Even though the countysBrawley is the first to admit that running for political voting populationat the timeoffice is challenging and should was44%black,neveroncestartfirstwiththefamily. hadanAfricanAmericanWhenIranforAuditor,I beensuccessfulinwinninghadatalkwithmywifeand oneofthesevencountywidechildrentoseewhattheir seats.Hesharescandidlyfeelingswereandifthey thatrunningandwinningthoughtmycampaignwas wasnoeasytaskandequallyviablebecauserunningfor challengingwascombatingofficeisafamilyaffair,says themyththatablackmanBrawley. As his wife that meant wasnotcapableofmasteringalottomeandtoourfamily thecomplexcomputationsthatPaulcaredaboutour ittooktosuccessfullydothefeelingsandwantedustobe job and ensure the county metfully onboard. It was important itsannualbudgetgoal.Histhat I started the campaign out historicelectionandmoreright, with my familys support, than16yearsofsuccessfulsays Brawley, because I wanted serviceasAuditorhaveittoendrightsothatIcould dispelledthatmyth.So,whatbeofservicetothepeopleof wasitthatdrewhimintoI tell everyone, dont stop, dont give up. IRichland County. politics? Brawley, now 66 yearslost three races before winning. Now we old, says his interest in politicshave greater representation in countywideEventhoughBrawleywas beganatanearlyage.Heoffices and Id like to think I had a littlesuccessful in his 2006 campaign creditshislatefather,Ernestsomething to do with that by giving otherforAuditor,hesaysheknows Brawley,Sr.,withinstillingcandidates the opportunity to see that wehowitfeelstoloseandthe inhimadesiretoservehiscan get elected and we can serve the peoplelessonsthatcanbelearned. communityandgetinvolvedHis two campaigns for the SC inpolitics.Asateenager,Iwell.Auditor Paul Brawley HouseofRepresentativesand saw my father actively workingone for Sheriff when he was in in our community and helpinghistwentiesendedindefeats. good candidates get elected. I tagged along with him,When I ran for Sheriff of Richland County in 1988, anditpiquedmyinterestinthepoliticalprocess,I had served in law enforcement and wanted to bring explainsBrawley.AccordingtoBrawley,heandhisachangetotheSheriffsDepartmentbyengaging 16IMARA'