BACKGROUND
NATIVE of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina.
Judge Edmond is a Special Agent with the SC House of Representatives; a
Senior Investigator with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department; and a
Special Agent at the SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED). He is also a
Military Veteran with the United States Army.
THE HONORABLE TOMOTHY C. EDMOND
TITLE: SC Summary Court Judge, Upper
Township District.
APPOINTED: May 11, 2011, by Governor Nikki
Haley with the advice of Senator John L. Scott, Jr.
and confirmed by the SC Senate.
EDUCATION: Judge Edmond earned an A. A. Degrees in Public Service
with a concentration in Criminal Justice and a B.S. Degree in Criminology
and Criminal Justice with a dual focus in Social Work at the University of
South Carolina. He is a graduate of the SC Criminal Justice Academy; Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA)Investigators School; Regional Counter
Drug Investigators Academy; and the SC Victim Assistance Academy.
BOARD /LEADERSHIP ROLES AND AFFILIATIONS: Judge Edmond is a
Veteran Service Representative with the Veteran Affairs; Veterans of
Foreign War of USA (VFW 4262), a Life Member, Summary Court Judges
Association, a member of the Sigma Alpha Lambda, and a member of the
Bibleway Church of Atlas Road, Columbia.
TERM IN OFFICE: Four Years.
HOBBIES: Spending time with family, coaching, motivational speaking, and
watching sports.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Honorable Tomothy C. Edmond
SC Summary Court Judge, Richland County
4919 Rhett Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 576 – 2570 /O - (803) 576 – 2579 /F
FAMILY: Judge Edmond is married to the former Carroll Reese. They have
two children, Tacara and DeQuita, and two grandchildren, Khairo and
Brianna. He and his family have resided in the NE/Greenview area for more
than fourteen years.
BACKGROUND (Abbreviated):
Native of Rock Hill, SC.
EDUCATION: B. S. in Business Administration/
Marketing at Winthrop University.
The Honorable Patrick Alan Barber
TITLE: SC Summary Court Judge for
Richland County.
APPOINTED: April 30, 2011, by Governor
Nikki Haley with the advise of Senator John L.
Scot, Jr., and confirmed by the SC Senate.
TERM IN OFFICE: Four Years
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Honorable Patrick Alan Barber
1400 Huger St., Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 576-2510/O (803) 576-2519/F
BOARD /LEADERSHIP ROLES AND AFFILIATIONS:
Member, Columbia Rotary Club; Former Vice President, Decker Boulevard
Business Coalition; Former Vice Basileus and Chaplain, Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity, Inc.; Chi Iota Iota Chapter, Fort Jackson; and SC Volunteer, Richland
County’s Operation Homeless Project.
FORMER ROLES: Columbia, SC: Relationship Manager, First Citizens Bank;
Personal Banker, Bank of America; Customer Service Representative, Nabisco
Brands Company; Merchandiser Representative, Fisher Price; and an Account
Executive, Infinity Broadcasting/WSSS, Charlotte, North Carolina.
HOBBIES: Golf, Jazz, and Poetry.
FAMILY: Judge Barber is married to the former Tina C. Williams. They have
two children, Anyah Kinsley Barber and Niles Patrick Barber. He and his
family have resided in Irmo for more than 15 years.
BACKGROUND
NATIVE of Newberry County.
THE HONORABLE JUDGE M. RITA METTS
TITLE: SC Summary Court Judge.
APPOINTED: May 2011 by Governor Nikki
Haley with the advice of Senator John L. Scott,
Jr., and confirmed by the SC Senate.
TERM IN OFFICE: Four Years.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Honorable Mildred Rita Metts
SC Summary Court Judge, Richland County
201 John Mark Dial Drive
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 576-3284/O - (803) 576-3303/F
Judge Metts owns and operates the Metts Law Firm, LLC, in Columbia. Her
specialty areas are Insurance Defense, Social Security and Veteran Disability
Benefits, Family Law and Mediation, and Workers Compensation and Personal
Injury Law. She is the Town Attorney for Carlisle and Union, SC, representing the
Town, Mayor, and Council Members in defense litigation involving the town and
municipal matters. She is a former Assistant Public Defender with the Newberry
Public Defenders’ Office and has extensive trial preparation and litigation
experience in administrative, magistrate, municipal, civil, family, and criminal
courts in state and federal courts.
EDUCATION:
Judge Metts earned a Juris Doctorate at the University of South Carolina School
of Law.
BOARD LEADERSHIP ROLES AND AFFILIATIONS:
Judge Metts was admitted to SC Bar and SC State District Court and Supreme
Courts in 1993. She is a member of the National Bar Association, Black Lawyers’
Association, Women Lawyers’ Association, and an Associate Member of the Black
Legislative Caucus.
The Metts Law Firm is located at 3531 River Drive, Columbia, SC 29201.
The telephone number is 803) 929-0577.
BACKGROUND
NATIVE of Greenwood, SC.
Judge Byrd worked for 33 years with the SC Department of Transportation,
serving as the Director of Compliance from1975 to 2008. While there, he was
responsible for the development of numerous innovative programs including the
Entrepreneurial Development Institute, the Education and Training Project and
the Specialized Management Assistance Project used by SCDOT to assist
vendors in business matters.
THE HONORABLE JUDGE BENJAMIN BYRD
TITLE: SC Summary Court Judge.
APPOINTED: May 27, 2010, by Governor Mark
C. Sanford with the advice of Senator John L.
Scott, Jr., and the consent of the SC Senate to fill
the one year unexpired term of Nikiya M. Hall.
Reappointed: May 11, 2011, by Governor Nikki R.
Haley with the advice of Senator John L. Scott,
Jr., and the consent of the SC Senate.
TERM IN OFFICE: Four Years.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Honorable Judge Benjamin Byrd
SC Summary Court, Richland County
1400 Huger Street, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 576 2330/O - (803) 748 4614/F
EDUCATION: B.S. in Economics earned at Benedict College; Juris Doctorate
earned at Stafford University Law.
BOARD LEADERSHIP ROLES AND AFFILIATIONS:
Judge Byrd is an active member of the Second Calvary Baptist Church in
Columbia and serves as a member of the Board of Deacons and a member
and past chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is a member of the Benedict
College Junior Alumni Association, a member and former Block Captain of the
Meadowlake Homeowners Association, and a former member of both the South
Carolina and National Association of Realtors. In addition, he is a former
member and past chair of the Richland County Planning Commission, a former
member of the Board of Directors of the Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Council, and a past president of the WJ Keenan High School PTO and
the WJ Keenan High School Band Boosters Club.
FAMILY: Judge Byrd is married to the former Jessie R. Calhoun of
Greenwood. They have two children, Meniquenne and Jequetta. He and his
wife have resided in Columbia for more than thirty-five years.
BACKGROUND
NATIVE of Edgefield, SC.
Commissioner Rearden is a retired: Secondary School Teacher; District
Manager in the life insurance industry; and Deputy State Director with the SC
Dept. of Social Services.
EDUCATION: Commissioner Rearden earned a B. S. Degree in Biology
earned at SC State University and took graduate studies at Fisk University
and the University of Indiana.
COMMISSIONER HARRISON REARDEN
TITLE: Commissioner, SC Dept.. of Transportation.
ELECTED: June 2010 by the Legislators of the
Sixth Congressional District.
BOARD LEADERSHIP ROLES AND AFFILIATIONS:
Commissioner Rearden is a member of the United Baptist Deacons of
Columbia, American Lung Association, Blue Ridge Institute Action Council of
SC, SC State Employees Association, Salvation Army, and the Columbia
Luncheon Club. He is chairman of the Meadowlake Voting Precinct and
serves as a Deacon at the First Nazareth Baptist Church. He is a former
chairman of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport Commission.
Among more than 63 awards, plaques, and citations, Commissioner Rearden
is the recipient of the SC Order of the Palmetto and the Silver Crescent.
TERM OF OFFICE: Four Years.
HOBBIES: Golf and traveling.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Commissioner Harrison Reardon
212 Elmont Drive, Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 521-5706/O - (803) 786-1376/F
FAMILY: Commissioner Rearden is married to the former Alethia Parr of
Sumter. He has resided in Columbia for thirty-seven years.
BACKGROUND
NATIVE of Columbia, SC.
EDUCATION:
B. S. in Business Administration with a Minor in Finance, South
University, Columbia, SC; Completed the SC Voter Registration and
Election Commission Training and Certification Program and
Leadership Certification at Midland’s Technical College.
MRS. LILLIAN A. MCBRIDE
TITLE: Executive Director, Richland County Board of Elections
and Registration.
APPOINTED: July 1, 2011, by the Richland County Delegation.
TERM IN OFFICE: Mrs. McBride serves at the pleasure of the
Commissioner.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Mrs. Lillian A. McBride, Executive Director
Richland County Board of Elections and Registration
Richland County Administration Building
2020 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 576-2240/O - (803) 576-2249/F
BOARD AND LEADERSHIP ROLES
Mrs. McBride’s background in Voter Registration and Education
expands more than 25 years. She was Appointed Chair and Director of
the Board of Voter Registration in March 2006 and later appointed to the
Richland County Board of Elections and Voter Registration in July 2011.
Memberships include the Legislative Committee and the Membership
Committee for the SC Association of Registration and Elections where
she teaches certification training classes.
Mrs. McBride is an active member of the Clement Road Church of God
in Columbia and serves as the Director of the Women’s Ministry,
Sunday School teacher, and mentor and leader in the Youth Ministry.
HOBBIES: Sewing, entertaining, and helping other people.
FAMILY: Mrs. Mc Bride is married to US Army Lt. Colonel Angelo
McBride. They have two children, Avery and Brittney, and two
grandchildren, Avery, Jr., and Deontre. The McBrides have resided in
Columbia for more than 25 years.