The Gubernatorial Appointments Project (SC GAP), which aims to increase the number of women serving on boards and commissions throughout South Carolina, will be announced on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. at the State House in Columbia. SC GAP will use its statewide network and partner organizations to reach women across the state with a wide array of expertise. Interested women will be able to search the SC GAP database for all vacancies - categorized by area of focus as well as position requirements, governing statutes, and term expiration dates – and then apply, confidentially, online. Gov. McMaster and GAP’s honorary co-chairs, Melinda Davis Lux (Upstate) and Candace Shriver (Midlands/Lowstate) have invited 25 women’s groups across the state to join in this effort. “Women make up 51.5 percent of the population but continue to be woefully underrepresented in state government,” said Barbara Rackes, a Columbia businesswoman and a founder of SC WIL. “There are currently 975 gubernatorial-appointed board and commission positions with either expired terms or vacancies. With Gov. McMaster’s support, we will recruit hundreds of qualified women to apply for these positions. These are women who will bring a different perspective and a wealth of experience to the table.”