Monier “Mo” Abusaft is a graduate of Wofford College and Vanderbilt University Law School. At Wofford, his interest in ministry led him to graduate Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. He was also awarded an ELI Fellowship, given to emerging leaders in ministry. Among Mo’s many activities during college, he was a summer missionary at Camp Cedine Ministries—being recognized as Cedine’s Missionary of the Year in 2007. He also served as President of his beloved fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., and was a member of the Wofford College Football team.
After earning his Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt, he returned to Spartanburg to be State Circuit Court Judge J. Mark Hayes’s law clerk. Mo then joined the staff of then Chief Justice Costa Pleicones at the South Carolina Supreme Court. After leaving the office of the Chief Justice, Mo became a public defender in the 16th Circuit Public Defender’s Office before moving to the 7th Circuit Public Defender’s office in Spartanburg. In May 2020, Mo started the Law Office of Mo Abusaft where he serves criminal and personal injury clients.
Mo is the former President of the Spartanburg Branch of the NAACP and is the Branch’s current first Vice President. Along with his work with the NAACP, Mo is the Board Chairman of Spartanburg Juneteenth Inc., a nonprofit organization responsible for Spartanburg Juneteenth—a festival celebrating the history and achievements of African Americans. He is also a graduate of the Spartanburg County Foundation’s Grassroots Leadership Development Institute, and a 2019 graduate of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Minority Business Accelerator. Mo is also a proud 2022 graduate of the South Carolina Democratic Party James E. Clyburn Political Fellowship.
Mo is committed to bringing positive change and influence to his community and on January 1, 2021 took office as Spartanburg County Council District 1 Representative. He represents 55,000 Spartanburg Citizens on Spartanburg’s Southside, Northside, Una, Arkwright, portions of Moore, and portions of Roebuck. He also serves as the Spartanburg County Democratic Party’s Third Vice President.
On a more personal note, Mo is a competitive barbeque enthusiast who competes in multiple barbeque competitions a year. When not participating in these activities, he enjoys spending time with his family and church community at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.