Re-elect
Your Coroner
“Every day, I work tirelessly to demonstrate to the voters—who generously invested their time, energy, and votes —that I am dedicated to serving them. I am the choice they made, and this office belongs to them. I work to make them proud of the choice they made. And I look forward to their continued support as I seek another term as their Coroner.”
- Coroner Naida Rutherford
Mail Campaign Donations to:
Rutherford for Coroner
1419 Pendleton Street
Columbia, SC 29201
About Naida Rutherford
From a homeless teen to a history-making elected official, Naida Rutherford is deeply grateful for the opportunity she has been given to serve the living and give a voice to the dead. In 2020, the voters in Richland County, South Carolina, the state’s capital, elected her as their Coroner. This election made her the first woman, the first medical professional, and the first African-American to hold the title in the 173-year history of the office.In a short time, Naida has established herself both locally and nationally as a recognized Coroner and motivational speaker. She has been featured in USA Today and has built a strong social media following. This rise in popularity came particularly after launching creative youth programs, introducing young people to a non-traditional career path in certifying the cause and manner of death. She is passionate about bringing TV shows like CSI “Crime Scene Investigators” to life for students and the community through her innovative Coroner Cadet program. This groundbreaking program, the first in the state, offers high school students hands-on experiences in STEM categories. Additionally, she actively serves on several boards and committees focused on health disparities, maternal mortality and morbidity, and domestic violence fatalities.Based in Columbia, SC, Naida maintains her national certification as a nurse practitioner. She leverages her medical experience to aid those in medically underserved areas and connects medical professionals with community groups through her ‘ASK A DOCTOR’ series, truly meeting community needs in their own neighborhoods. Coroner Rutherford also uses her platform to address controversial health concerns and safety matters in the community.From natural to unnatural deaths, Coroner Naida Rutherford assists families in navigating the shock and sorrow of losing a loved one. She firmly believes, “Regardless of the circumstance, everyone’s story around their death is their truth, and their truth deserves to be told—with compassion and justice for all.”
some of my proudest accomplishments since I’ve been YOUR Coroner
Modernization
My administration launched a new mobile application that provides real-time information, upload, and scanning capabilities, enhancing communication and enabling multi-agency collaboration and access.For our constituents, we have moved all document requests online, simplifying the process to submit requests seamlessly.We are aligning resources to reduce the wait and processing times for death certificates, ensuring families get what they need more quickly.I have approved an updated version of our website for 2024 to continue streamlining the process of submitting and requesting documents online seamlessly.”
Compensation
Upon taking office, securing holiday pay, ensuring paid overtime, enhancing pay scales, and raising starting salaries were top priorities. My commitment was to ensure that the dedicated individuals serving our community are fairly compensated. This fiscal responsibility has enabled our office to operate at full capacity, ready to meet any demand or crisis we may face
Visibility
We are adopting a community-centric approach that focuses on death prevention, empowerment, and education, ensuring that the Coroner’s office plays a visible and proactive role beyond the somber occasions of death and tragedy. Our goal is to forge a stronger connection with the community, providing resources and support that contribute to the well-being of our citizens and foster a more informed public.
Innovation
We are offering career development experiences and exposure to non-traditional career paths through our pioneering Coroner Cadet Program—the first of its kind in both the state and the country.
Connection
We are aligning resources with community needs to ensure that every interaction with our office supports our commitment to serve and engage with the public effectively.
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I work for you
"There is much more we aim to accomplish, with many more families to assist."
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I have some truly innovative ideas for 2024 and beyond. Your support will allow my administration to continue the work you elected me to do.
Mail Campaign Donations to:
Rutherford for Coroner
1419 Pendleton Street
Columbia, SC 29201
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welcome to my re-election campaign
Thank you!
“Your support will enable me to build further on the successes of my administration. You elected me to enhance the efficiency, openness, and accountability of this office, and I am committed to not letting you down.”
-Naida Rutherford, Coroner