SCHotline Partner Jeffrey Sewell - Biography
February 14, 2007
JEFFREY SEWELL BIOGRAPHY
There aren’t too many political consultants in South Carolina who can pull off a Frank Sinatra-style ascot at a down home country barbecue, but that’s the first thing you need to know about Jeffrey Sewell: He’s not afraid to be himself. And speak his mind.
True to a debonair style that belies his brass tacks, “run it like a business” approach to campaign management, this former dot-com executive turned campaign operative is quickly making a name for himself in Palmetto political circles as a go-to inside player, a big-picture strategist, a talent manager extraordinaire and (not to neglect his bread and butter) a technological guru with the best data in the business.
“Being successful in business or politics boils down to two things – managing people and managing data,” Sewell says. “Winning strategies rest in the identification of superior personnel, the utilization of superior information and the creative, efficient management of both.”
In a very short period of time, Sewell’s strategies are having a major impact on South Carolina’s political landscape.
Since assuming co-ownership two years ago of SC Hotline, the state’s most popular political website, Sewell has pushed the creative envelope and helped transform the site into a major media player, eclipsing most mainstream in-state media in visits per day and using cutting edge online video technology to conduct exclusive interviews with America’s biggest political luminaries.
Along the way, he’s become a fixture at top-dollar political events, on the opinion pages of the state’s largest newspapers and most importantly, on winning political campaigns.
“Jeffrey helped assemble the talent we needed to win,” says State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, who hired Sewell to help manage his successful GOP Primary in 2006. “He was instrumental in getting our campaign team – and our campaign network – up and running and firing on all cylinders.”
When it comes to campaign networks, Sewell’s data services have helped drive the grassroots efforts of successful candidates ranging from City Council all the way up to Gov. Mark Sanford’s office, and his company Sewell Consultancy boasts some of South Carolina’s heftiest political heavyweights on its client roster.
“These guys are as good as it gets,” says Randy Page, President of South Carolinians for Responsible Government, the state’s largest conservative advocacy group.
Sewell, who has helped manage large scale software implementations and data services for Six Sigma industry giants like Geico, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Owens Corning and SCANA in the past, now brings his technological proficiency and managerial expertise to bear on getting leaders elected and good ideas across the finish line.
Jeffrey Sewell and his wife Vee reside in West Columbia, South Carolina.
February 14, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Jeffery,
Thanks for all the good work in the 2006 campaign. Data is boring, but you made it work for us.
Now, as far as the Ascot, hmmm, the jury is still out. I will get back to you the Deb season…
B.
February 14, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Does the power of the Sewell come from the Ascot? From a simple piece of cloth?
Dare I drop the bow-tie and try “a Sewell”?
If only I could harness the power of the A.
Chris
February 14, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Jeffery…
Can’t make a move without you! When I get outta this white house gig we gotta get together…I wanna show you this top hat thing I am playing with…
Karl
February 14, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Thanks for the SC Hotline. I travel a lot and it is very helpful.
I hope you can do more independent reporting as SC media is very slack in the regard.
Thanks again.
October 6, 2007 at 1:25 pm
[...] Jeffrey Sewell over at SCHOTLINE seems to really like the Romney hit piece by the Log Cabin Republicans. =) [...]
January 18, 2008 at 3:24 am
[...] news and opinion only. Well, good for them. There’s enough in this state to go around. Maybe Jeff Sewell will be able to afford another [...]
March 15, 2008 at 12:28 am
I think you’re batting for the wrong team, my man
March 15, 2008 at 12:34 am
WOW!
A conservative political consultant helps Republicans win races in the one of the most conservative/republican states in the nation…
March 30, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Thanks for your Ravenel piece in the Greenville News. Sounds like you are not a lock em up and throw away the key person.
As Greenville County’s first Public Defender (22 years), I am well acquainted with Donnie Myers and the record of Lexington County. Was this just a Ravenel thing or can we count on your continued support for justice in sentencing.
Will look forward to your reply.
April 19, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Pete Partee,
Absolutely, I have felt this way for years, it did become very personal with regard to my friend Thomas Ravenels situation. Neither should have received jail time based on what we know of the situation and original charges.
Miller was used and allowed to sell drugs in order to snare Ravenel. We collectively regardless of party need to agree upon our priorities and our beliefs that the rehabilitation of non-violent offender is the right thing to do.
We have with no help from my own party have become a punitive and not rehabilitative oriented society.
~Jeffrey Sewell
June 20, 2008 at 2:27 pm
[...] (Click here for more info.) South Carolina Hotline blog - the SC Hotline sites are apparently by Jeffrey Sewell South Caroina Hotline website - Really, nice directory of SC news sites and blogs. SC Yellow Dog [...]
June 23, 2008 at 11:31 pm
[...] 23, 2008 On his show this morning, radio talk show host and long lost Jeffrey Sewell family member Don Imus host made, well, it was more than a slip of the [...]
June 30, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Jeff,
Been some years, man! Looks like you’re doing well for yourself and your finger’s firmly on the pulse of SC politics…if you ever want to reminisce about the ComPro.SC days, drop me a line.