BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – As the June 9 primary approaches, voters in South Carolina House District 102 will soon decide who will challenge Republican incumbent Harriet Holman in November. One of the candidates seeking the Democratic nomination is Katie McCravy — a longtime banking and business professional who says her campaign is rooted in service, accessibility and addressing the rapid growth challenges facing Berkeley and Dorchester counties.
District 102 includes portions of Berkeley and Dorchester counties, including St. Stephen, Cross, Harleyville, Ridgeville, Reevesville, rural areas of Summerville and several unincorporated communities. Throughout her campaign, McCravy says residents have consistently voiced concerns about infrastructure, healthcare access, affordable housing, traffic congestion and economic opportunity.
READ MORE l What to Know About the 2026 SC Carolina Primary Elections in Berkeley County
In this Q&A, McCravy discusses what motivated her to run, how she would address growth and development concerns, where she stands on education and public safety, and how she hopes to bridge political divides if elected.
Q: What specifically motivated you to run for South Carolina House District 102 at this time?
Katie McCravy:
Service has always been a part of my life. I felt called to take service to a greater level by representing District 102. Because this is a crucial time for South Carolina. Families are facing more and more challenges each and everyday. Residents are feeling unheard and want leadership that can solve problems, be present, and accessible.
Q: For those who don’t know you, explain your background – both professional, educational and personal (Ex: family).
Katie McCravy:
For those who may not know me, my background is rooted in service, business leadership, and community involvement. Professionally, I have spent more than 25 years in the banking and lending industry, with a focus on business development, leadership, and community engagement. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the College of Charleston and my Master’s degree in Business Management from Webster University.
My husband, Shane, and I will soon celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We are proud parents of one son, Shane II, who is currently attending graduate school at Loyola Marymount University in California. We also have two precious fur babies, Summer Love and Gracie Mae.
I was raised with strong values of faith, compassion, and service by my paternal grandmother. She taught me the importance of helping neighbors, respecting elders, and always giving back to the community, values that continue to guide my life and leadership today.
Q: What are the top three issues facing District 102 right now, and how would you address them if elected?
Katie McCravy:
I believe the top issues facing District 102 right now are equitable pay, access to healthcare in rural areas, affordable housing, and infrastructure. These challenges impact everyone: working families, seniors, young professionals, and the future growth throughout Berkeley and Dorchester Counties.
- Equitable Pay
Many hardworking families are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living despite working full-time jobs. People deserve wages that allow them to support their families, afford housing, and build financial stability. If elected, I would support workforce development initiatives, small business growth, career training programs, and mandating that new industries coming to area create sustainable jobs and pay a livable wage for the area. - Access to Healthcare in Rural Areas
I believe everyone deserves access to quality healthcare regardless of where they live. Healthcare continues to be a major concern, especially in rural parts of District 102. Many residents in my district face long travel times for medical care, 45 minutes to an hour in some cases. There is limited access to specialists, mental health services, and emergency care.. I plan to advocate to expand rural healthcare services by supporting Telehealth access, strengthening healthcare workforce recruitment in underserved communities by providing government incentives. - Affordable Housing and Infrastructure
Rapid growth across Berkeley and Dorchester Counties has placed increasing pressure on both housing affordability and infrastructure. Many hardworking families are finding it more difficult to afford homes in the communities where they work and live. At the same time, roads, schools, emergency services, and public infrastructure are struggling to keep pace with rapid development. I support policies that encourage affordable workforce housing. I believe developers should also play a meaningful role in supporting infrastructure improvements and creating affordable housing solutions. At the state level we must clearly define what “affordable housing” truly means for our communities. Affordable housing should align with the average wages and cost of living in the area so that teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, young professionals, and working families can realistically afford to live in the communities they serve.
Q: What areas does your district represent – and how do you hope to appeal to/reach voters in those areas?
Katie McCravy:
South Carolina House District 102 currently covers portions of both Berkeley and Dorchester Counties in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
Cities: St. Stephen, Cross, Harleyville, Ridgeville, Reevesville, Rural portions of Summerville, and unincorporated communities in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties
Q: What sets you apart from your opponent(s), and why should voters choose you?
Katie McCravy:
What sets me apart is my combination of real-world business leadership, community involvement, and proven experience helping people solve problems. While I respect both Montez Aiken and Harriet Holman (Republican Incumbent) for stepping forward to serve, my background has prepared me to lead with both compassion and results.
For more than 25 years, I have worked in banking, lending, and business development, helping families purchase homes, helping small businesses grow, and helping organizations access resources and funding. I understand economic challenges from both the community perspective and the business perspective.
I also bring deep community engagement. My work has always centered around people, whether through financial education, supporting nonprofits, advocating for underserved communities, or building partnerships across Dorchester and Berkeley Counties. I believe leadership should be visible, accessible, and connected to the people every day, not just during election season.
Another difference is my focus on collaboration and practical solutions. I am not running on empty promises or political talking points. I am focused on issues that directly impact District 102 families:
• Access to healthcare in rural communities
• Stronger educational opportunities
• Infrastructure improvements
• Economic equity and workforce development
• Support for seniors, working families, and small businesses
My values shape how I lead and treat people. I believe voters want someone who can listen, unite people, and work across differences to get things done for the district. At the end of the day, my campaign is rooted in community, service, and action, not politics.
Q: What has running for office taught you so far?
Katie McCravy:
Running for office has taught me that people want to be heard more than anything else. No matter their background, political affiliation, or community, people want leaders who will truly listen, show up consistently, and understand the challenges they face every day. It has also taught me the power of community. I have met so many hardworking families, seniors, small business owners, educators, and young people who care deeply about the future of District 102. Their stories, struggles, and hopes have reinforced why servant leadership matters.
• Most importantly, people want someone who is accessible, authentic, and willing to stand beside them.
Q: Growth and development continue to impact Berkeley County. How do you balance economic growth with infrastructure and quality of life concerns?
Katie McCravy:
My approach is to support sustainable growth that creates jobs and opportunity, while still protecting the communities and the way of life in District 102. In my district Berkeley and Dorchester counties are both considered fastest-growing areas in South Carolina. Growth is important, but growth without planning has placed tremendous strain on our roads, schools, healthcare access, public safety, and the overall quality of life for families in the area. The growth is outpacing the infrastructure needed to support it. We have become a custom to infrastructure improvements happening years after a big development. We can no longer follow this old model. We have to start planning before any large-scale projects begins, that includes evaluating traffic patterns, road capacity, school overcrowding, water and sewer systems, emergency services, and environmental impact.
Quality of life matters just as much as economic growth we must preserve the character of our communities and protect rural areas that residents value deeply.
Q: Residents often raise concerns about traffic and road capacity. What concrete steps would you support to improve infrastructure in this district?
Katie McCravy:
Traffic and infrastructure concerns are among the top issues I hear from residents across District 102. Families are frustrated with overcrowded roads, long commute times, and development happening faster than infrastructure improvements. I would support several concrete steps to improve infrastructure in this district: I believe we must hold developers accountable and mandate that they must contribute fairly to infrastructure improvements connected to the growth they help create. Residents should not carry the entire burden when rapid development impacts roads, schools, and public services.
Q: Where do you stand on property taxes, and what changes, if any, would you advocate for at the state level?
Katie McCravy:
I believe property taxes are placing a burden on many families, seniors on fixed incomes, and working homeowners across South Carolina. As property values continue to rise, many residents are struggling to keep up with increasing tax bills, because their wages have not increased at the same pace.
I support responsible property tax relief that protects homeowners while still ensuring local communities have the resources needed for schools, public safety, infrastructure, and essential services. At the state level, I would advocate for: greater property tax protections for seniors and residents living on fixed incomes so they are not taxed out of their homes. Monitoring how rapid property reassessments impact homeowners in growing areas like Berkeley and Dorchester Counties. Exploring targeted tax relief programs for working families and long-term residents who are experiencing sharp increases in housing costs.
Q: Public safety is a key concern locally. What policies would you support to strengthen law enforcement and reduce crime?
Katie McCravy:
The goal should always be to create safer, stronger communities through collaboration, prevention, and accountability, while maintaining respect for both public safety professionals and the residents they serve. We must also ensure our law enforcement agencies have the resources, training, technology, and staffing needed to effectively protect and serve our communities.
Law enforcement officers across South Carolina are overworked and facing significant staffing shortages, especially in rapidly growing communities. Improving recruitment and retention efforts must be a priority. Currently, South Carolina has one primary training academy serving the entire state. I would support expanding law enforcement training by establishing three regional training facilities located in the Upstate, Midlands, and Coastal regions. This would help reduce wait times for training, strengthen recruitment efforts, and enhance curriculum development to better prepare officers for the challenges they face today.
Community interaction is equally important. Building trust between law enforcement and residents can happen through regular community forums, neighborhood meetings, and meet-and-greet events that encourage open communication and stronger relationships.
I also support legislation similar to Senate Bill 585, the SAFE Act, which helps protect individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges by improving communication and awareness during interactions with law enforcement.
In addition, we must strengthen partnerships between schools, community organizations, faith leaders, and law enforcement by creating more youth mentorship and prevention programs. Investing in prevention, education, mental health support, and rehabilitation programs is essential to reducing repeat offenses and creating long-term safer communities across South Carolina
Q: Education funding and school capacity are ongoing issues. How would you ensure schools in District 102 are adequately supported as the population grows?
Katie McCravy:
Education is one of the most important investments we can make for the future of District 102 and South Carolina. As our communities continue to grow, we must ensure our schools grow with them. Currently, we have overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, aging facilities, and limited resources. This places a huge strain on students, educators, and parents. One area I would support reviewing is the allocation of state lottery funds. The South Carolina Education Lottery was created to support education, and I believe we should evaluate whether more of those funds can be directed toward K-12 education needs, school infrastructure, classroom resources, teacher support, and workforce development programs in growing districts like ours.
Q: If elected, how will you remain accessible and accountable to the people of District 102?
Katie McCravy:
I will remain accessible and accountable by being consistently present in the community and maintaining open communication with the people of District 102. I believe elected officials should be visible, approachable, and responsive, not only during campaign season, but throughout their entire time in office.
I plan to hold regular town halls and community forums, across Berkeley and Dorchester Counties so residents have opportunities to share concerns, ask questions, and stay informed about legislative issues impacting their lives. I also want to create strong communication channels through social media and newsletters.
Q: Anything else worth mentioning?
Katie McCravy:
Most importantly, I want people to know that I genuinely care about this community. The values of faith, compassion, respect, and service that were instilled in me by my grandmother continue to guide both my personal life and my leadership. I believe leadership should always be grounded in integrity and a commitment to helping others.
Throughout my career, I have worked directly with families, small businesses, nonprofits, educators, and community leaders across the Lowcountry. Those experiences have given me the understanding of the challenges people face every day, from economic pressures, healthcare access, and education and infrastructure concerns.
District 102 deserves a leader like me, who is visible, accessible, and willing to work collaboratively to move the community forward. My goal is not simply to hold office and create meaningful partnerships, advocate for policies that improve the quality of life for all residents.
Q: Any website/social media pages you’d like to mention or upcoming events?
Katie McCravy:
My webpage is Katie for 102
Follow my Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/katiefor102
Q: Who are you running against for District 102…and if you win the primary who will you face in November?
Katie McCravy:
In the primary I am running against Montez Aiken. When I win the primary I am running against Incumbent Harriet Holman.
Q: When did you file to run for office and when did you formally announce you were running?
Katie McCravy:
I announced August 25, 2025. I filed March 20,2026
Q: There is such political division in the country. How do you intend to bridge the gap and reach out to both sides?
Katie McCravy:
I believe people have far more in common than what divides us. Most families regardless of political party want safe communities, quality education, access to healthcare, economic opportunity, and a better future for their children. Politics focuses too much on division instead of solutions.
My approach always is centered on people. I want constituents to know they can speak with me openly, whether they voted for me or not. I plan to stay accessible through community forums, town halls, faith-based outreach, and consistent engagement throughout the district, not just during election season. Progress happens when we focus less on political labels and more on addressing the real challenges facing our communities.
Editor’s Note: The Berkeley Observer is committed to providing fair, accurate and comprehensive coverage of local elections and the candidates seeking to represent our community. We do not endorse specific candidates. Instead, we believe in equipping voters with clear, accessible information so they can make informed decisions at the ballot box. Other candidates interested in a Q&A may reach out to us at: [email protected].
