Vincent Coe, a Democrat, is running for South Carolina treasurer in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces Republican Curtis M. Loftis Jr.

Asked why he is running, Coe said in our candidate questionnaire: "I'm running for State Treasurer because I believe South Carolina can do better when it comes to managing and accounting for the public's money. … I'm running because I have experience that fits this moment, and I believe I can bring a different level of accountability to the Treasurer's Office."

Candidate information

Party: "Democratic Party," Coe said in our questionnaire.

Hometown: Coe said he "was raised in Darlington County" and is from Florence, South Carolina, according to his campaign website.

Family: "My father is a Vietnam veteran, and my mother is a nurse practitioner. I also have two siblings," Coe said in our questionnaire.

Education: "I earned my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business. I later earned my Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and completed an Executive Management Certification at Francis Marion University," Coe said in our questionnaire. BallotReady lists a high school diploma from Lamar High School.

Experience and public service

Coe said in our questionnaire: "My professional background is in banking, finance and financial regulation. I previously worked as a bank examiner with the Federal Reserve, where I evaluated financial institutions, reviewed financial information, assessed risk and looked closely at whether the proper controls were in place."

Coe said he has not previously held elected office. He was the 2022 Democratic nominee for South Carolina House of Representatives District 63, according to the SC Daily Gazette.

His campaign website says he worked as a bank examiner trainee at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from January 2009 to September 2011, then as a bank examiner at the agency from 2015 to 2018 and at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from 2018 to 2020. He received the FDIC Mission Achievement Award for his role during the 2008 financial crisis, according to the Omega Network for Action. He serves as a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitrator, according to the same source. He is a South Carolina farm owner, according to the Charleston County Democratic Party. BallotReady lists him as owner of Balcony Advisors.

On the issues

Financial accountability: Asked about his top priority, Coe said in our questionnaire: "My top priority is making sure South Carolinians can trust the numbers coming out of the Treasurer's Office. We have spent far too much time debating where money is, who is responsible and why numbers don't match."

State fund management: Asked what he would change about how the treasurer's office manages state funds, Coe said: "I would start with the basics: make sure the numbers reconcile and make sure we have systems in place to catch problems early. … I also want reporting that regular people can understand."

Fiscal transparency: Coe proposes publishing a public report every month on every account, investment and fee the treasurer's office oversees, according to his campaign website.

Unclaimed property: Coe proposes mailing more unclaimed money back to its owners automatically, with no claim form required, according to his campaign website. He says over $850 million in unclaimed property sits in state coffers.

Community banking and fees: Coe proposes giving South Carolina's community banks a fair shot at holding the state's money and putting banking contracts out for competitive bids to bring fees down, according to his campaign website.

Endorsements

The following endorsement was claimed by the endorser:

  • Omega Network for Action

Candidate responses were collected through the Fort Mill-Tega Cay Times candidate questionnaire. Answers are presented in the candidate's own words.