Journal of the House of Representatives
of the Second Session of the 110th General Assembly
of the State of South Carolina
being the Regular Session Beginning Tuesday, January 11, 1994

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| Printed Page 5840, May 11 | Printed Page 5860, May 11 |
Printed Page 5850 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
Q. Do you think that might be a problem as far as being neutral and, of course, you're dealing with businesses as well as consumers? Do you think that position is going to be a problem with you being fair to the business?
A. I don't believe so because my -- all of my educational background is more in the business arena and, of course, my -- my work experience throughout my career has been in making logical business decisions and it's -- it's always a balancing act that you're doing.
Q. All right, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: Any other questions from the committee? Thank you, Mr. Lewis, and we'll get you back in here maybe after while. Bear with us. Thank you.

Mr. Skipper, we appreciate you coming here today and your interest in serving on the Consumer Affairs Commission. We're going to start off by putting you under oath and our staff attorney, Mr. Johnson, is going to ask you some questions. And then following him the committee members may have some questions for you and then we'll let you, of course, explain anything that you want to and give us your reasons for serving and then your qualifications.

Once we're through, we're going to have to ask you to stay because we're going to have Executive Session at the end and it could be something that come up in that, that we need to bring you back in to follow up or clarify something that you testified to.

I've just been notified that I'm needed at Senator Holland's Office on an emergency situation. Representative Whipper, would you take the chair for me while I am gone? I apologize for having to leave.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Mr. Skipper, we're happy to have you here this afternoon and we have some -- has he been sworn in yet?
MR. JOHNSON: No, ma'am.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: You will be sworn in and then we have some routine questions to review with you first before the committee members ask questions.
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
RONALD G. SKIPPER, having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
MR. SKIPPER - EXAMINATION BY MR. JOHNSON:
Q. Mr. Skipper, the -- there was a summary that Carleen McQueeney sent out that's basically a condensation of all the information that you sent us and you had an opportunity to correct or amend that and send that back. Do you recall that summary?
A. Yes.

Printed Page 5851 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
Q. Would you -- do you affirm that the information is correct on that summary and would you agree to entering that summary into the record and the transcript here today?
A. Yes, I do.

PERSONAL DATA QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMARY

1. Ronald G. Skipper
Home Address:
P.O. Box One
Hartsville, South Carolina 29551-0001

2. He was born in Florence, SC on 2/17/51. He is presently 43 years old.
Social Security Number: ***-**-****

5. He was married on 6/7/73 to Sherron Lee and has two girls:Candace Angel and Christina Gene.

7. He graduated from St. Johns High School. Received an Associate Degree in Business Marketing from Florence Darlington TEC. He also received a Bachelor Degree in Business Management from Limestone College. He has also attended additional courses and workshops which included:Bell Leadership Series; Advanced Achievement Leadership Workshop - 1992; Daniel School of Management; Assertiveness Workshop - 1990; Hartsville Chamber of Commerce, Six Month Leadership Course - 1988.

9. He has been or is a member of: Chamber of Commerce; United Way; Lions Club; and Welsh Neck Baptist Association.

10. His professional experience includes:

Sonoco Products Company 1989-1993
High Density Film Products Division
Credit Supervisor (1991-1993)
Accounts Receivable Coordinator (1989-1991)

Printed Page 5852 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
South Carolina Federal Savings Bank 1983-1987
Hartsville, SC Branch Officer
Consumer Loan Officer

Florence-Darlington Technical College 1985-1987
Part Time Evening Instructor

First National Bank 1977-1983
Hartsville, SC
Collections Officer (1980-1983)
Window and Vault Teller (1979-1980)
Drive-In Window Teller (1977-1979)

21. Five (5) letters of recommendation:
Mr.Jack Westmoreland, Mr. Hal Gaymon, Mr. Phillip Whichard, Mrs. Addie Mullis, and Mr. John Nichols (Banker).

Q. The -- your SLED records check is negative. Your driving records check is negative. Your Personal Data Questionnaire indicates negative on Responses -- on Items 11 through 20. Your State Ethics Commission Statement of Economic Interest indicates negative on Items 13 through 20. And I just have a few questions that are basically reviews of the same information from those questionnaires for you.

Mr. Skipper, do you or any member of your family own or operate any business which contracts with the state or federal government?
A. No, we do not.
Q. Do you or any member of your family own or operate any business which receives funds from the Consumer Affairs Commission?
A. No, we do not.
Q. Have you ever been arrested, charged or held by a federal, state or other law enforcement authorities for the violation of a federal, state or local law?
A. No, I have not.
Q. Have you, to your knowledge, ever been under federal, state or local investigation for possible violation of a criminal statute?
A. No, I have not.
Q. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics or unprofessional conduct by any court, agency, association or professional group?
A. No, I have not.

Printed Page 5853 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
Q. Are you now or have you ever been employed as a lobbyist or acted in the capacity as a lobbyist principal?
A. No, I have not.
Q. Can you think of any reasons that you may have -- that would give you difficulty in performing the duties of this appointment should you receive it?
A. There are none.
Q. If you would like to, you may briefly explain to the committee now why you would like to serve on the Consumer Affairs Commission.
A. Well, I was wanting to tell you a little bit about myself and lead into that, if that's all right, or should I just go right straight to the part about why I want to be on the commission?
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Well, whatever, you know, relates. We do have a resume. If you feel that you need to give us added information, you may feel free to do so.
A. I'd like to briefly just state that I was -- I was born in Florence, South Carolina. And when my father became a minister, we moved to Darlington, South Carolina, which is the county seat for Hartsville, Darlington and Lamar and other cities, neighboring cities.

Immediately after I graduated from high school, I was employed by Hanes Hosiery in Hartsville and I soon realized that I needed to further my education. Therefore, I resigned from being an employee at Hanes Hosiery to enroll in Florence-Darlington Technical College.

Upon graduation from Florence-Darlington Tech, I received an associate's degree in Business Marketing and moved to Hartsville and I began my career in banking.

I married my wife who is Sherron Skipper, City Clerk, Personnel Director for the City of Hartsville. And over the next 15 years, I saw many changes and mergers in banking. During that time that's when I realized that again I needed to further my education, so I enrolled -- while being a full-time employee, I enrolled in Limestone College.

In 1984 having two daughters that were teenagers at the time, I graduated from Limestone College and had a full-time job receiving a bachelor's degree in business management.

During the time of my banking career, the 15 years, I gained invaluable experience in dealing with consumers because my main obligation was consumer loan officer. The banks that I actually worked at were just two different banks, but they merged out several times, so the name changes each time it merged out. It looks like I worked for many banks, but I didn't. It was just two of them.

Printed Page 5854 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
In 1988, I began a career in the product sector with Sonoco Products company, a Fortune 500 company, as credit supervisor with the High Density Film Division. My working relationship with Sonoco continued until 1993, just recently, due to downsizing of -- foreign competition. They began downsizing and laying off positions to cut back, and, unfortunately, in July, my position was among others that was cut back. And I found myself looking for employment, and I found myself with a unique opportunity because of the many things that I learned at Sonoco. I learned computer technology, thus opening up my own small business just recently doing computer repairs, major installations, upgrading and preventive maintenance.

Although this type of business is extremely small, it is something that I extremely enjoy doing in my spare time. I feel that the past 23 years of my adult life has given me the knowledge, the skills and the confidence to serve the people of South Carolina in the same dependable way that I have always served the people in my area as a volunteer and through service organizations.

To the Consumer Affairs Commission, I bring my strong sense of fair play and honesty which the consumers of our state deserve. It is my desire to serve our consumers with the same integrity that I've always given to the people in my community, and I have been a volunteer, like I said, for 23 years in the Hartsville area serving on the nonprofit organizations such as the United Way, Lions Club and things like that and I have given unselfishly of my time to the people of Hartsville, and I've extremely enjoy that.

I dedicated myself and I was loyal and still am and I want to carry that over to the State of South Carolina to all the consumers.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Thank you. Do we have any questions from the committee members? Yes, Representative Bailey.
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE BAILEY:
Q. Mr. Skipper, St. John's High School, that was in Hartsville?
A. That's in Darlington.
Q. Darlington?
A. I was born in --
Q. You don't happen to have one in Charleston on Johns Island?
A. I think that's St. Johns Island.
Q. What did you say you do now?
A. I am self-employed temporarily as the Computer Doctor. I'm registered with the Federal Tax ID, employer ID number as the Computer Doctor. And what it consists of is major repairs to PCs and the

Printed Page 5855 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
paraphernalia that goes with the computer, major installations, upgrades and preventive maintenance.
Q. And I think you said your wife works for the Town of Hartsville?
A. City of Hartsville. She is the City Clerk and Personnel Director. Has been for the last 13 years.
REPRESENTATIVE BAILEY: That's all, Madam Chairman.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: You have other questions? Yes.
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE MCLEOD:
Q. What did you teach?
A. At Florence-Darlington Tech? Introduction to Teller Training, Banking. That's where I began my first contacts and working in also public relations with people as a teller in a bank, and that's when the urge inside me began to grow that I wanted to be a servant to the people.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Senator.
EXAMINATION BY SENATOR REESE:
Q. Do you anticipate staying in your own business indefinitely?
A. I have talked to many people that are already in the business and for the size of Hartsville and the Darlington County, that's how the business is, part time. And I continue to do that really in my spare time.

I did it before the downsizing at Sonoco on the weekends and basically that's what it is right now, just weekend work. There is just not enough type of that equipment in that county that needs a full-time position. But I anticipate it to be part time for me many years to come, almost like a hobby.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Other questions? Mr. Skipper, we would like to inform you that the session is open for further information because we do not have all of the information that we requested and after we are through with the interviews, we will have an Executive Session and at that time, afterwards, if you are around, we may have a report. Thank you.
A. Could I ask one question?
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Yes.
A. Carleen called me the other week -- the other day and made note that a couple of the letters had not come in, I was wanting to know if they did.
MS. MCQUEENEY: I got them.
A. They did. Okay. Thank you.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Thank you. Mr. Churchill, we're happy to have you with us this afternoon and we would like to begin by having you sworn in and having you answer a few questions.
MR. CHURCHILL: Okay.
MR. JOHNSON: Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Printed Page 5856 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
DAVID L. CHURCHILL, having been duly sworn, testified as follows:
MR. CHURCHILL - EXAMINATION BY MR. JOHNSON:
Q. Mr. Churchill, there was a summary of information that Ms. Carleen McQueeney condensed from all the forms that were filled out that was sent to you for your verification and then returned back to our office?
A. Right.
Q. Do you affirm that the information on that summary is correct and would you agree to enter that into the record today?
A. Yes.

PERSONAL DATA QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMARY

1. David L Churchill
807 Wedgefield Road
Florence, SC 29501

2. He was born in Bloomfield, NJ, on June 12, 1930. He is presently 63. Social
Security Number: ***-**-****.

5. He was married April 17, 1954 to Janet Feist. They have two children: Glenn P. Churchill, age (36), Assistant Solicitor, 9th Judicial Circuit and Ellen W. Churchill, age (32), Nurse Practitioner (MSN).

6. Military Service: August 24, 1952 - October 8, 1956 USAF Captain; AO 2246900; Honorable discharge; Served as Russian Language Intelligence Officer (NSA).

7. Education: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 1948-1952. Received a BA degree. Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa.

8. Public Service: Member of Zoning Board of Appeal (appointed by the Mayor) in Ohio, 1973-1974; February 1, 1994 to Present - Volunteer Tutor for the Florence Area Literacy Council.

9. He has been or is a member of: Chi Phi social fraternity; Phi Beta Kappa; National Trust for Historic Preservation; Rutgers Club of South Carolina; AARP; Sons of the American Revolution; National Association of Railroad Passengers.

Printed Page 5857 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
10. His professional experience includes:
Evaluator (P.T.) Florence Coalition Against Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse - Florence SC - August 1992 to November 1993; Marketing Consultant L-TEC Welding & Cutting Systems - Florence, SC -Sept. 1990 to Aug. 1991; Product Business Manager L-TEC Welding & Cutting Systems - Florence SC - July 1985 to August 1990 (Retired); Product Manager Union Carbide Corp., Linde Division -Florence, SC - January 1978 to June 1985; Special Assignment Union Carbide Corp., Linde Division - New York, NY - August 1977 to December 1977; President, Merritt-Holland Company Subsidiary of Union Carbide Corp. - Wilmington, NC - May 1974 to July 1977; Region Marketing Manager Union Carbide Corp., Linde Division - Cleveland, OH
- February 1968 to April 1974; Assistant Region Sales Manager Union Carbide Corp., Linde Division - San Francisco, CA - February 1965 to January 1968; Field Sales Representative Union Carbide Corp., Linde Division - Buffalo, NY - August 1958 to January 1965; Training Coordinator Union Carbide Corp., Linde Division - New York, NY - October 1956 to July 1958.

21. Five (5) letters of recommendation: Sean Kittrell, Walter Ranson, Ray Frisch, Steve Dykes, Scott Blalock.

Q. Thank you, sir. Your SLED records check is negative. Your driving records check is negative. Your Personal Data Questionnaire indicates negative on responses to Items 11 through 20. Your State Ethics Commission Statement of Economic Interest indicates a negative on Items 13 through 20. And I've just got a few questions to ask you that are really just review of those questions that you've already answered before in those forms.

Mr. Churchill, do you or any member of your family own or operate any business which contracts with the state or federal government?
A. No, we do not.
Q. Do you or any member of your family own or operate any business which receives funding from the Consumer Affairs Commission?
A. No.
Q. Have you ever been arrested, charged or held by federal, state or other law enforcement authorities for the violation of a state, federal or local law?
A. No.

Printed Page 5858 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
Q. Have you, to your knowledge, ever been under federal, state or local investigation for possible violation of a criminal statute?
A. No, I have not.
Q. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics or unprofessional conduct by any court, agency, association or professional group?
A. No.
Q. Are you now or have you ever been employed as a lobbyist or acted in a capacity as a lobbyist principal?
A. No.
Q. Are there any reasons you may think of that may cause you difficulty in performing the duties of this appointment if you receive it?
A. No.
Q. If you'd like to now, Mr. Churchill, you may briefly explain to the committee why you would like to serve on the Consumer Affairs Commission?
A. Well, I've got a selfish reason and I've got an unselfish reason. The selfish reason is I'm retired and I think that retired people should remain intellectually active and the unselfish reason is if I'm going to be intellectually active, I'd like to -- that activity to be socially beneficial.

That's the reason that I act as a volunteer tutor for the Florence Area Literacy Council and that's the reason that I applied for and was given the position as a part-time evaluator of the -- of the Florence Coalition Against Alcohol and other Drug Abuse, which was a temporary position, but I had that job for about 13 months.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Do we have any questions from the committee? Senator.
SENATOR REESE: Yes.
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE BAILEY:
Q. Just a couple. Mr. Churchill, looking at your professional experience you came to South Carolina in about 1978 with Union Carbide --
A. Yes.
Q. -- from New York?
A. Well, actually my previous assignment with the Union Carbide was in Wilmington, North Carolina. But I was president of the Union Carbide subsidiary in Wilmington, North Carolina. That is what I did for Union Carbide prior to coming to South Carolina.
Q. How about telling me a little bit about this, the Florence Coalition Against Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse. What did you do with that?
A. Well, there is a -- that's a federally funded activity and there is a -- there is a company in Columbia known as the Evaluation Group, which

Printed Page 5859 . . . . . Wednesday, May 11, 1994
had a -- which has a contract to evaluate that program. You know, any time the government spends money, they like to know what's going on and so forth. I was one of a hundred applicants for the job of local evaluator for the Florence Coalition and I received that position. And my job was to attend all of the volunteer committee meetings and write an evaluation report, so I did that for the 13 months that the -- that the job existed, but they abolished -- well, it was a temporary assignment, temporary job.
REPRESENTATIVE BAILEY: I don't have any more questions, Madam Chairman.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Other committee members? Senator.
EXAMINATION BY SENATOR REESE:
Q. Mr. Churchill, have you ever considered joining the National Association of Bus Riders? I notice you're a member of the National Association of Railroad Passengers?
A. Well, I'm not sure there is a National Association of Bus Passengers, but I am a rail buff, so that's why I -- I joined that group.
Q. What do y'all do, make trips and things?
A. Well, you get a newsletter which tells us what's going on basically with AmTrak because you know they run most of the passenger trains and then you get a sticker to put on your car and it says, "I'd rather be on the train."
Q. Is that in -- have any of the historic trips involved? I know in Spartanburg, sometimes we have these historical trips.
A. Yeah, I haven't been on one of those, but most of -- those are mostly excursions and they're very popular and I just haven't had a chance to go on one yet, but at least not in this state.
Q. That's all.
REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER: Other committee members?
EXAMINATION BY REPRESENTATIVE WHIPPER:
Q. How do you see the mission of this agency?
A. The mission of the --
Q. The agency?
A. The agency?
Q. Uh-huh, or the commission really.
A. Yeah. Well, it's to -- it's to protect the consuming public in South Carolina and I know that there is an -- there is a legal division and I know that there is a consumer advocate division, an administration division and -- and then the -- and then the division that handles the consumer complaints.

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