b'Meet Kristin GrazianoSCs FIRST Female SheriffMakes HistoryBy Tameka Kenan-NormanYoursuccesswillbedeterminedbyyourownIt was an exciting morning, beams Graziano when confidenceandfortitudeisoneofMichellerecallingElectionDay. Wehaddonethenumbers Obamas most resonating quotes. It is certainly fittingandrealizedmostofthepeoplewhowouldhave for Charleston County Sheriffbeenourconstituentshad KristinGraziano.Awomanalready voted, so it was exciting whoseemedtoatfirsthaveformebecausethenumbers alloftheoddsagainsther,were going to be in our favor. alwaysdemonstratedfortitude. Intheraceagainsta32- Optimistic,Grazianostill yearRepublicanincumbent,hadherchallengesinthe campaigningduringabeginning.Shehadnever pandemic,championingrunforoffice,andthe changeinthemidstoflocalragingpandemicchallenged andnationaltensionbetweenherfundraisingefforts. lawenforcementandminorityRegardless,sheunselfishly communities,Grazianosdecidedtoputtheneeds confidenceneverwaveredofthecommunityfirst. either. And, both attributes had tobeintactwhentheformerIfeltincrediblyguiltyasking SWAT(SpecialWeaponsandpeopleformoneywhen Tactics)teammemberwaspeoplewerestruggling, placedonleavebyherformersaysGraziano.So,I bossoncehediscoveredshesuspendedmyfundraising was campaigning to be sheriff.forabouttwomonths.It GrazianobelievedshewasOur goal is to respond towasntuntilMayorJune, summonedforchange,andincidents and de-escalate them,whenpeoplestartedgoing thefortitudeandconfidencenot the use of force. backtowork,andIjustdid sheexudedhascatapulteddoubleworkonthephones. herintothehistorybooks!Sheriff Kristin GrazianoTheeffortandcompassion The Campaign literallypaidoff.Graziano In my heart, I already knew we had won, admittedraised $79,304 compared to the incumbents $65,539. the32-yearlawenforcementveteran.Eventhough she describes her talented campaign manager as beingIknewgoingintoitwehadtodefeatname alittle antsy,Grazianohadanalyzedthesituationrecognition, notes Graziano. It was my goal to never and felt confident about the impending outcome.repeatthenameofwhoIwasrunningagainstand not to give him that publicity.28IMARA'