Linda Ketner

Linda Ketner (D) is running against incumbent Republican Henry Brown (R) for the South Carolina First Congressional District seat.  The district runs up the coast from just below Charleston to north of Myrtle Beach and west of the Ashley River

Background:
Linda Ketner is the heiress to the Lion King Grocery Store business. In 1980, she founded KSI  Leadership & Management Development, which serves businesses, nonprofits and government with leadership and management development programs, products and services. She is known for her philanthropic work in South Carolina. She founded the South Carolina Citizens for Housing, which works to make housing more affordable for low income people, veterans and the elderly. She also founded the Alliance for Full acceptance, and the South Carolina Equality Coalition. She has chaired the Mayor’s council on Homelessness and Affordable Housing as well as the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund. She has fought for gay rights, the homeless, women’s rights and civil rights.  Ketner began the Women’s Fund, the Ketner Fund, the Fund for Social Justice and four scholarships for students at the College of Charleston. She volunteered in Mississippi to help victims of Katrina. Linda Ketner received a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Positions on Key Issues:

• Supports: Reproductive Rights, Gay Rights

Positions of Opponent:

• Supports: Stem cell research
• Opposes: restricting interstate transport of minors for abortion services, banning late term abortion unless to save the mother's life, banning international family planning aid from the US

Supported By:

• Feminist Majority
• Added to DCCC Red to Blue list

Prospects:
Ketner has as much money as she needs for the race. The biggest disadvantage is that the district is solidly Republican. Ketner’s money and serious committed work in the community may put her over the top.

Website:
www.lindaketner.com