| Leon was born in Charleston, attended Orange Grove Elementary School and graduated from Middleton High School. He earned his bachelor's degree from the College of Charleston and graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
He has served in the General Assembly since 2007. Prior to that, he served as Chairman of Charleston County Council and as a local prosecutor.
First elected to the legislature with the support of Republicans, Democrats and Independents, Leon has earned a reputation as being a bipartisan problem-solver, and a fiscally-responsible leader. He has repeatedly voted against tax hikes - demanding efficiency and eliminating waste. He repeatedly cut income, property and sales taxes, while still making critical investments in our roads, neighborhoods and schools.
Leon and his wife Anne live in West Ashley. They have three children, Clara Anne, Emmanuel and Emma.
He has been voted Legislator of the Year by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Charleston's Maritime Association of South Carolina, while also maintaining a 95% lifetime pro-environment voting record and receiving repeated endorsements by the Conservation Voters of South Carolina.
Elected Chairman of the Charleston County Council by a bi-partisan group of his colleagues, Leon oversaw the budget that elevated Charleston County's credit rating to AAA. He helped pass the state's first county-wide smart growth management plan, the urban growth boundary, and the state's first county green space preservation plan.
Leon's experience includes helping to secure the funding for I-526 and the Ravenel Bridge. |