About Tory

Tory J. Liferidge was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Moncks Corner, SC. He was educated in the Berkeley County School District and is a 1995 graduate of Berkeley High School. Tory continued his education at Duke University where he attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and minors in Business and African American Studies in 2000. After discerning a call to serve in ministry, Tory pursued and earned a Master of Divinity degree at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC in 2007.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a County Supervisor?

• Serves as Chairman of County Council and administrator of county operations
• Executes all policies and laws approved by the County Council
• Oversees all administrative functions, personnel, annual county budget capital and economic development projects
• Serves as the county’s representative in the community
• Works with local and state leaders on matters pertaining to Berkeley County

Why is Tory the right person for the job?

• Proven leader
• Adept at vision casting and comprehensive planning
• Excellent communicator
• Efficient multi-tasker
• Authentic, speaks the truth and has a backbone to stand for the people of Berkeley County over the powerful few

How can Tory impact Berkeley County for the better?

• Provide comprehensive vision and planning that is actually used to guide the county
• Introduce mechanisms for more transparency with regard to capital projects, budgets and processes for prioritization
• Comprehensive infrastructure planning to address 2040 needs now
• Recruit and employ the best personnel at key positions with correlating experience and expertise
• Hire a Chief Diversity Officer to increase diversity and diverse perspectives around the county

Leadership

• 16 years of pastoring and leading congregations of all sizes including one of 10,000 members
• Transformed a small and dying church into a 200+ member thriving community hub in Moncks Corner
• Named one of the 12 Black Leaders to Know in South Carolina by the Post & Courier

Committment

• Worked with the Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce to create and execute the Berkeley Career Express in 2014. This 8-week initiative partnered with Berkeley County School District Adult Education and the Library system to provide skills development to rural communities. The first class in St. Stephen graduated over 30 participants.
• Formed and serves as the Executive Director of a five-year old nonprofit (Grace Impact Development Center – GIDC) that is part of a Habitat for Humanity International national cohort and recipient of major grants (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Boeing, General Motors, Volvo, Elizabeth Anton Foundation, etc.).
• Organized to help regain the majority of the Berkeley County School District and the former Board Chair of the GIDC elected as Superintendent.
• Partnered with the Lowcountry Continuum of Care to organize the first homeless Point-in-Time Count for Berkeley County. The PIT count is necessary for Berkeley County given there are zero shelter beds in the county. Prior to our participation, the homeless count for all of Berkeley County was zero.
• Organized a homeless sleepout demonstration with two other local pastors. The pastors slept in tents across from the Berkeley County Administration Building and also provided tents for those experiencing homelessness. The demonstration was for three of the coldest days in January of this year. It has led to a coalition of 36 community leaders working to bring a shelter to Berkeley County. In addition, the county has now partnered with the coalition to open a warming shelter when temperatures drop below freezing.
• Secured Covid-19 grant funds to help small businesses in Moncks Corner recover and recognize frontline workers.
• Providing two 8-week workforce development courses (electrician and welding) for persons either out of the workforce or working without a living wage.