Donovan Malloy voted a senator at Boys State

By Ardie Arvidson

Published: July 30, 2008

Donovan Malloy, a rising senior at Hartsville High School, campaigned while attending Palmetto Boys State June 9-14, for state senator, following in his father Sen. Gerald Malloy’s footsteps and won.

During the week, each participant had the opportunity to run for and be elected to mock offices ranging from city council to governor.

More than 800 boys are selected by their high school teachers and counselors to participate as delegates in the week long American Legion’s Palmetto Boys State designed to teach boys about the governmental system and the political system that makes it work.

The delegates are divided up into counties, which are named for famous South Carolinians. Malloy was from Rutledge County.

A candidate from each party runs for each office, and by doing so,  learns about government and politics. They must campaign and make speeches trying to persuade not only members of their own party but also members of the opposing party as well to vote for them since the parties are divided equally.

The students learned about the election process in the state first hand. They had to go through the election process for every position. They elected mayors, city, county and state officials.

A son of Sen. Malloy and Davita Malloy, Donovan said he learned to appreciate more the process his father went through to be elected from this district.
“I learned to be outspoken and to more active,” Donovan said.

He also admitted that having campaigned with his father helped him a lot.

“I had to call him a couple of times,” Donovan said. “He told me to speak from my heart and be myself.”

Donovan was glad that he won on his first try because he said he was too nervous to run for any other office. His first speech was made before his party of 150 people, the second before 300 people.

Donovan said he ran for the office because he wanted to help people out and represent them.

Donovan said he had thought about running for a public office in the future, and he now understands what it takes. He wants to be a lawyer but hasn’t decided where he would like to attend college. He is thinking about the University of South Carolina or Morehouse College.

Malloy says there are many ways he can use what he learned at Boys State as he returns to school in August. He is a linebacker on the Hartsville High School football team, a member of the Call Me Mister Club, the BETA Club and the basketball team.

Malloy said he learned leadership skills, to be more active and involved in his community and school and to care about things.

“I was vice president of the Call Me Mister Club last year,” he said. “I will more than likely run for president this year.”

The club is involved in community activities and is a good place to use what he has learned.

The best part of Boys State, said Malloy, was meeting new people from around the state. However, he didn’t like getting up early or having to walk in a straight line. He said they walked everywhere they went around the University of South Carolina campus where the event was held.

“It was hot,” said Malloy.

One of the “coolest” things that happened, according to Malloy, was when they went to the statehouse, his father came in and spoke to them in the senate chambers.
“He spoke for a few minutes and that was kind of cool,” Donovan said. “People came up to me and asked if I ran for senator because of him.”

He said he ran to represent the people.