Chandra Dillard

Chandra Elisa Dillard is a Democratic State Representative from Greenville County, South Carolina, representing District 23 since 2008. A native of Nicholtown, she was born on March 10, 1965.

Before her election to the State House, Dillard made history as the first woman elected from her district to serve on Greenville City Council, where she served for nine years beginning in 1999. She later became part of the first female majority City Council for the City of Greenville.

Throughout her career, Dillard has secured over $100 million in funding to address community development, human investment, and infrastructure needs. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including the South Carolina Democratic Party's Elected Official of the Year Award in 2018.

Currently, she serves as the SC House Deputy Minority Leader and holds memberships in several key committees and caucuses, including the Ways and Means Committee, the SC Legislative Black Caucus, and the SC General Assembly Women's Caucus. She is also a member of the special House Legislative Committee on Equitable Justice and Law Enforcement Reform.

Dillard is particularly passionate about affordable housing and early childhood education. She has been a dedicated advocate for housing affordability throughout her public service career, supporting inclusionary zoning initiatives and tax credits for affordable housing projects.

In her professional life, she serves as Director of Community Relations for Furman University.

Education

Dillard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Winthrop University and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Walden University. She has also completed Leadership Greenville, Furman's Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Initiative, and Leadership South Carolina.

Political Experience

Dillard's public service spans over 20 years, beginning with her tenure on Greenville City Council from 1999 to 2008. Since her election to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2008, she has served on various committees including the Legislative Oversight Committee, the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, and the Agriculture Committee. She was the first woman to chair the Environmental Affairs Subcommittee of the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee.

Beyond legislative roles, she previously served as President of the Conference of Black Municipal Elected Officials and President of the South Carolina General Assembly Women's Caucus . She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and serves as a lay servant at John Wesley United Methodist Church.