Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2019

51 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.BestOfMP.com | www.ReadMPM.com feature because that’s where his Charleston office is located. In August, he visited and toured Alice’s Clubhouse, a memory care day center on Bowman Road designed for adults with mild to moderate memory loss. “It’s a great organization doing a lot of good work,” said Cunningham. Among the other recent stops East of the Cooper was a discussion with shrimpers and fishermen on Shem Creek, getting their input on legislation that would help combat climate change. “I want to be their conduit to Washington, D.C. I want to know their stories and what concerns them,” explained Cunningham. “It’s a good reminder of how front and center our district is with climate change with rising sea levels, and talking to fishermen about the rising temperature of the waters. This past August, the surface temperature was 89 degrees where in the past it had only been 83 degrees… shrimpers are going out and bringing back 60 pounds of shrimp instead of 600 pounds. It begs the question: ‘Is this sustainable?’ What happens when you can’t go out to a restaurant and order Lowcountry shrimp?” Cunningham has a long relationship with the sea that goes well beyond beach walking and dockside dining. Although he was born in Kentucky, his professional life has always revolved around the water, working as an ocean engineer in Florida; and he met his wife, Amanda, when he was working as a deckhand on a yacht before going back to school to study law. Wrapping up our second interview, this time seated comfortably in his office in Washington, I asked Cunningham, “If you could bring one thing up from South Car-,” and he jumped in with “beer” before I could finish. “I try to bring up some beer every time I come up,” he explained. “I give it away to my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans. I find it’s still a great way to make friends and forge relationships.” And then he was on the go again, off to another meeting. DON’T MAKE A MOVE WITHOUT COMPARING OUR RATES & SERVICE Homebuyers, it’s time to find the perfect place — for your family and your mortgage loan. Ask how our low rates can help your monthly payments Personal, one-on-one service to avoid surprises Fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages Great options for purchasing or refinancing All loans are subject to credit review and approval. Terms and conditions subject to change without notice. Insured by NCUA. scfederal.org/ m ortgage 843.569.5145 FOR HOMEBUYERS