Kristin Graziano has become the first woman ever elected to Sheriff in the state of South Carolina as she defeated longtime incumbent Al Cannon early Wednesday morning. She is also the first openly LGBTQ sheriff ever elected in the Palmetto State.
Graziano was a longtime Charleston County deputy until February, when Cannon placed her on unpaid administrative leave after he found out she was planning to run against him. Cannon had been the Charleston County Sheriff since 1988.
In a press release, Graziano said she will draw on her thirty-two years of experience in law enforcement to “bring long overdue and much-needed change to the Charleston County Sheriff's office.”
Graziano served as a Master Deputy for 18 years with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, leading SWAT teams, serving on anti-terrorism task forces, mentoring children as a school resource officer, and studying and implementing cost-saving reforms to deputies' schedules.
