Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The Senate assembled at 11:00 A.M., the hour to which it stood adjourned, and was called to order by the ACTING PRESIDENT, Senator PATTERSON.

On motion of Senator ALEXANDER, the following was received and ordered printed in the Journal:

The candidate screening was conducted on March 7th, 2005 at 427 Blatt Building, Columbia, South Carolina, on the 7th day of March, 2005 before Sonya K. Grice, Court Reporter and Notary Public in and for the State of South Carolina.

APPEARANCES:
Representative Olin Phillips
Representative Jesse Hines
Representative Lanny F. Littlejohn
Representative Becky Martin
Senator Thomas Alexander
Senator Linda Short
Senator Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.
Senator Jake Knotts

ALSO PRESENT:
Sophia Floyd

CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I'll call the meeting to order, and I also apologize and thank you for being on time and apologize for our lateness, because I think we were sitting about an hour and a half, Lannie, before me and you moved one inch? And y'all all know about the dead chickens. It was a chicken truck. Chickens was all over the road, and I expect they'll be there this afternoon. I'd like to welcome the two new committee members, Senator Harvey Peeler. Senator Peeler represents Cherokee; that's his main district, Cherokee and York, Union and Spartanburg. I guess we can call him the upstate senator. He's got all three counties in the upstate. And also Senator Jake Knotts from Lexington, and we welcome you to the committee, Senator Knotts. And our other committee members are Senator Linda Short from Chester/Fairfield.
SENATOR SHORT: Union and York.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Union and York, too, four counties. And Jesse Hines from Latta or Lamar, and Lanny Littlejohn from Spartanburg County, and Becky Martin from Anderson, and myself, Olin Phillips, from Cherokee. All right, we're going to start with the Citadel. There are two candidates, and the seats are at-large. There's only one seat, and the two candidates are Claude Burns, III and Dudley Saleeby, Jr. And the first candidate is Claude Burns, III. And Claude, if you can come forward?
MR. BURNS: (Mr. Burns approaches the front.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will you please raise your right hand, sir?
MR. BURNS: (Mr. Burns raises his right hand.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health problems that would cause you to be unable to fulfill the services should you be elected?
MR. BURNS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any connections that would cause you to have a conflict of interest, should you be elected, from your business standpoint?
MR. BURNS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you been appointed or elected to any other board or commissions, and do you serve on any at this present time?
MR. BURNS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do your hobbies or anything that would pertain would prevent you from serving at any time either at a called meeting or on the board?
MR. BURNS: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, you can go ahead with your opening statements, and in essence of time, since we are running so short, if you'd keep your statements pretty brief because I know we've some people who would like to ask some questions. Thank you, sir. Go ahead.
MR. BURNS: Thank you. And good afternoon, now, ladies and gentlemen. It's a pleasure to be here before you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Would you speak into the mic, sir?
MR. BURNS: I can't get it to stay up, but ... there it is. I'm Claude Burns from Rock Hill, South Carolina. I have a business there, and I'm a 1980 Citadel graduate. I have a son that will graduate from the Citadel in May, and I find that it's a unique time that I feel like my skills are well-suited to the needs of the Citadel. I have served on multiple boards in my community. I'm an elder and deacon in my church. I'm a past president of the South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association, and some of the skills that I've garnered over my 25-year career I feel like can be well used at the Citadel at this time. My company has about 100 employees, so over the past 25 years I've recruited, hired and trained an awful lot of employees with our President, General Grinalds and our Commandant, General Mace announcing their retirements effective August of this year, I think that it will be a unique time to be sure that the correct people are chosen to replace them, and that was a big reason that I chose to run at this time. Also, through my business I've built buildings on the same piece of property that I tore down the original buildings on, and the Citadel is in the process of having to do a lot of those things as well, and so I think that my skills at playing musical buildings, if you will, and matching budgets to projects, I think that these skills will serve the school very well. I'll defer any other comments in respect for whoever has to go last.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Burns. Are there any questions of any committee members to Mr. Claude Burns?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Maybe just one, Mr. Chairman, if I may.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Hines.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: If you are successful in your endeavors in being elected, what would be your position on the acceptance of qualified African-American students?
MR. BURNS: Well, certainly we have a lot of qualified African-American students at the school right now, and I don't know any other way to respond other than certainly any qualified applicant, whether African-American, Caucasian or Chinese, should be accepted, if they're qualified.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Thank you, sir.
MR. BURNS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions from any committee members? (No Response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, Mr. Burns.
MR. BURNS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. At this time, we'll hear from Dudley Saleeby, Jr. Mr. Saleeby, would you please raise your right hand, sir?
MR. SALEEBY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I'll ask you the question; do you have any health-related problem that would prevent you from serving full-time on the Board?
MR. SALEEBY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you been elected or appointed to any position that would constitute a dual office-holding?
MR. SALEEBY: No, sir. But I do serve on the Board at this time in an alumni seat.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay.
MR. SALEEBY: It wouldn't be dual office-holding.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No. All right, sir. Do you have any hobbies or anything that would prevent you from serving at any time the Board calls?
MR. SALEEBY: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No, sir; okay. All right. If you'll go ahead with your brief statement, sir.
MR. SALEEBY: I'll try to be brief. I'm appreciative of the time and the fact that we're running late. As I just mentioned to you, I've been serving on the Citadel Board for the past six years in a seat elected by our alumni. This is 30 years of service for me at the Citadel, first as a fund-raiser for my class, and then as an officer and a director of our Alumni Association. And what we are doing today and the work that I want to continue and why I offered for this seat is that we have just formulated and articulated our vision statement for the future and trying to formalize our leadership programs and our ethical form and foundation. As was mentioned, we're in the process of searching for a new president, and I have been selected to be on that Presidential Search Committee. I was on the Presidential Search Committee in 1989 when I sat with the Board as Alumni Association President, and I've been on the Search Committee for our number two office or our Provost. What I have to offer is experience at all levels with the school as a fund-raiser, as a budget-maker, as a worker in the trenches, and as a policymaker, and I, too, am proud to say that I have a son who graduated 2002. I'd be glad to answer any questions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions from any committee members for Mr. Saleeby? Senator Knotts?
SENATOR KNOTTS: Mr. Saleeby, you say you're on the Board now?
MR. SALEEBY: Yes, sir.
SENATOR KNOTTS: As an alumni?
MR. SALEEBY: That's correct. Alumni Association elected seat, and you cannot succeed yourself in that seat.
SENATOR KNOTTS: I was just trying to find out, you know, if you're on the Board, what would be the difference in being an alumni seat or a legislative seat, but you answered the question.
MR. SALEEBY: According to our state law, three of the seats are Alumni Association seats; they rotate every two years. The Alumni Association seat is one where you cannot succeed yourself, and that's why I'm offering at this time.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Senator Peeler?
SENATOR PEELER: So, Mr. Saleeby, how long did you serve as a member of the Alumni?
MR. SALEEBY: I have been active in the Alumni Association; and by active, I'm talking about on the Board of Directors and past President, for about 30 years.
SENATOR PEELER: But you've served on the Board only two years?
MR. SALEEBY: Six years. This is my sixth year on the Board.
SENATOR PEELER: Three two-year terms?
MR. SALEEBY: No, sir. One six-year term. These are six-year terms.
SENATOR PEELER: But what you're running for now is a four-year or a six-year?
MR. SALEEBY: It's a six-year term.
SENATOR PEELER: It's six also; okay.
MR. SALEEBY: I think it would be like your seats. If we had to run for this every two years, you probably wouldn't get many people to run.
SENATOR PEELER: [inaudible] ... they let us change that to every six, also.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? Anybody? Any member of the committee? (No Response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: There's no more questions. Thank you, Mr. Saleeby.
MR. SALEEBY: Thank you, sir. Do you wish for us to stay, or what is your preference?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No, I'm going to let you go. What we're going to do is I'll ask for a motion now that we report these two candidates out.
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable.
SENATOR KNOTTS: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Motion by Senator Short, second by Senator Knotts, and we report you two candidates out, and you may solicit probably next Thursday. What we have to do ... let me go over this briefly. We have to ... and we've got a court stenographer here today, and I didn't ask ...
MS. FLOYD: Sonya.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sonya. I didn't introduce our court stenographer.
MS. FLOYD: Or me.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Or Sophie, our secretary. I had chickens on my mind. What we will do is, she'll transcribe this. We will put it in the Journal, and that will probably be in next week's Tuesday and Wednesday Journal. So I suspect that you'll be able to solicit votes next Thursday. Have you got that date, Sophie?
MS. FLOYD: I don't have it with me, no.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: It's supposed to be next Thursday. We'll give you that date in a minute. Next Thursday at 11:00.
MR. SALEEBY: Do you have a date for the election yet, sir?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: The date of the election will be in April. We can't have the election ... the law is ... until after April because of the budget. We never know how many days in March that we're going to have the election. One thing that's holding us up is the House, and I'm not sure, is the Senate taking a week off, Senators? No? But see, the House will be out of session for one week and, after the budget, so, you know, that stalls us off.
UNIDENTIFIABLE MALE VOICE: Mr. Chairman, if you want to, we can elect them in the Senate.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Y'all do a good job over there. But, anyway, it'll be next Thursday at 11:00, you may seek ...
MS. FLOYD: March 17th.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: March 17th, and that is budget week, so we'll have plenty of time while they're filibustering a budget and talking about the budget, that some of your people can walk the floor and solicit for you. That's at 11:00 on March the 17th. This is the ones that we're going to screen out. The ones that we have open and do not screen completely today cannot solicit until the 29th of March because we can't let some solicit and others not even been screened, so I'm sorry some couldn't be here today to do that. That's going to delay some other people, but it will not delay the Citadel because there's only one race, and both candidates have been screened, so you are eligible on March 17th at 11:00. Be sure you tell your friends now, because if they get caught soliciting before then, it could cause you a problem. It's to keep it on a clean playing field, it's 11:00, March 17th. And thank you very much for waiting and being here. I'm sorry that we were late for you.
MR. SALEEBY: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I'd like to ask the committee how they w ant to handle this one. Coastal Carolina University has five congressional district seats, one at-large, and I see no candidates have any opposition. All of them are unopposed. All of them are unopposed. Would you entertain a motion that we swear them and then turn around, or, in essence, if you have a quick question and rather than defray their going through the statements or whatever? You do have a copy of the statements in the folder. What is the pleasure of the committee on that? You'd rather screen them completely, or you want to ...
UNIDENTIFIABLE MALE VOICE: Make them all go up together; is that what you're saying?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman, all but one is an incumbent; is that correct?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah.
SENATOR SHORT: You might allow the one who is not an incumbent to make a statement, and the others ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, I'm sorry. All incumbents ... Billy Alford is not an incumbent? Okay. No, we will have to screen Mr. Alford, but there would be ... I'll read the names to you that will be 2nd District, Seat 4, James F. Kane; 3rd District, Seat 6, William Lyles, Jr.; 4th District, Seat 8, Keith S. Smith; 5th District, Seat 10, Robert D. Brown; 6th District, Seat 12, Cathy B. Harvin. That's the one that I was thinking about. Briefly introduce themselves and then if there are any brief questions; forego the statement because of ... is that all right with the committee? Hear a motion that we do that, or do you want to screen them, make them go through the opening statements and everything like we did the other two candidates? Since they're incumbents and been ...
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: I'll make a motion.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right.
SENATOR SHORT: Second.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman, to clarify, if somebody's got a question of them while they're up here doing that, they certainly deserve the right ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah. I mean, what I'm going to do is forego their opening statements because it's already given to you in the book. If they have a question from one, they have a right to answer. All right, sir. We'll go ahead with the 2nd District, Seat 4, James F. Kane. Mr. Kane? Mr. Kane, please raise your right hand, sir.
MR. KANE: (Mr. Kane does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you swear that you do not have any other appointments or any committee assignments that would cause dual office- holding?
MR. KANE: I do.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your health has been good enough that you've had good attendance to all the board meetings that you've been to?
MR. KANE: Yes, I do.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And no conflict of interest from a business standpoint?
MR. KANE: No conflict of interest.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Anybody have any questions for Mr. Kane?
MR. KANE: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. All right. We'll ask that the 3rd District, Seat 6, William Lyles, Jr. Mr. Lyles, I'll ask you the same question. Have you been appointed or elected to any other positions in your community that we need to know about?
MR. LYLES: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your attendance at your board meetings, you've been regular in attending them, not to do any, you know, because of any health reasons?
MR. LYLES: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. And have you, your hobbies haven't prevented you from being a good member?
MR. LYLES: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Go ahead. Any questions of Mr. Lyles? Thank you, sir.
MR. LYLES: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 4th District, Keith S. Smith, and the 4th District, Seat 8. Mr. Smith?
MR. SMITH: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Please raise your right hand.
MR. SMITH: (Mr. Smith does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You haven't been appointed or elected to any position that would cause dual office-holding; have you?
MR. SMITH: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your committee ... your attendance at the Board has been good, sir?
MR. SMITH: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And have no health problems that we need to know about at this time?
MR. SMITH: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any of the committee members got any questions of Mr. Smith? (No Response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Thank you, sir.
MR. SMITH: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. We'll go to 5th District, Seat 10, Mr. Robert Brown. Thank you, Mr. Brown. Please raise your right hand. I'll ask you the same question.
MR. BROWN: (Mr. Brown does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You haven't been elected or appointed to any position that would cause a dual office-holding; have you, sir?
MR. BROWN: No, I have not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your position in the meetings, the board meetings have been, attendance is well, sir?
MR. BROWN: Very well, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health problems that would cause you not to continue?
MR. BROWN: None whatsoever.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Any questions for Mr. Robert Brown? Mr. Knotts?
SENATOR KNOTTS: What is your win/loss record of your football clinic? I'm just kidding.
MR. BROWN: Won 10 and lost 1. Only if USC could do as well.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, Robert. We're going to let you sit down. Okay. 6th District, Seat 12, Cathy B. Harvin. Cathy, how are you today?
MS. HARVIN: Just fine, sir. Good to see you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good. Tell Alex hello for us, and we hope he's doing well.
MS. HARVIN: I will. He'll be back to see y'all in the morning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, thank you very much. Cathy, you haven't been elected or appointed to any other position other than what you now hold; have you?
MS. HARVIN: I have not, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Do you have any health problems that would cause us to be alarmed that you wouldn't be able to attend?
MS. HARVIN: Nothing could stop me from serving on the Coastal Carolina Board of Trustees.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I know you've been attending when you can. Thank you very much. Any questions for Cathy? (No Response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None whatsoever. Thank you very much. All right. You've heard all of those that we've just screened. What is the position of the committee now, that we report them out?
SENATOR SHORT: Favorable report.
SENATOR KNOTTS: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Favorable, Ms. Short, second, Senator Knotts, that we give them permission to go ahead and seek on the 17th of March at 11:00. All right. Now, we'll get to Mr. Billy Alford. Thank you very much. You're welcome to go or stay, whatever. Mr. Alford, that's the At-large seat, Seat 14.
MR. ALFORD: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will you please raise your right hand, sir?
MR. ALFORD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Alford, do you hold any positions that would constitute a dual office- holding back home?
MR. ALFORD: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None? Sir, do you have any, your business would not cause a conflict of interest in any way; would it?
MR. ALFORD: No, sir, but our business does do work occasionally for Coastal.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health problems which would prevent you from serving on a regular basis?
MR. ALFORD: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead with your statement, sir.
MR. ALFORD: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It's indeed a pleasure for me to be here today. My purpose in seeking a position on the Board of Coastal Carolina University is the fact that I am a graduate of the university. I served as President of the Alumni Association, Chairman of the Horry County Education Commission, as well as President of the Coastal Education Foundation. I feel Coastal is a very important part not only of our community but our state, and without the support of the university, it would have been extremely difficult to make such projects happen like the Carolina Base Parkway and the Conway Bypass. I'm a huge supporter of this university and feel like the impact the university could have not only to the sons and daughters of the state, but also to the General Assembly and other areas would be beneficial, and I'd just like to be a part of it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Mr. Alford from any committee member?
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Billy, you indicated that the business that you have sometimes does work with the university?
MR. ALFORD: Yes. We are in the fine water restoration business, and every once in a while, very seldom, if something happens, they will call our company out.
SENATOR SHORT: So if there was something, there was a contractual, you would just recuse yourself on any voting ...
MR. ALFORD: Oh, yes, ma'am.
SENATOR SHORT: ... that might be held?
MR. ALFORD: No question.
SENATOR SHORT: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You would also be required under the Ethics Committee to report any monies that you earned; are you aware of that, sir?
MR. ALFORD: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other committee member got any questions?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Kind of following that same line, too, I'd like for the record to reflect that that was a pre-existing business, too. It's not been something that's started since he's become a member of the Board. He's had that relationship prior to that.
MR. ALFORD: 31 years.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I just think that's important, too.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And any other questions from any committee members for Mr. Alford? None? What is the pleasure of the committee?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Move favorable appointment Mr. Alford out favorable? Second by Senator Knotts. All in favor, say "aye". COMMITTEE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, you may on 3/17/05, also start your solicitation for votes.
MR. ALFORD: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I'd like to say, you know, just because some of these candidates are unopposed doesn't mean they're going to be elected that day. They can also be rejected on the floor of the House, as we have had them to do in the past. So I'm not, I don't want you to leave here thinking you don't have to solicit because sometimes things happen. We'll go to South Carolina State now, and there's four congressional districts and two of them are at- large, and the 1st District, Seat 1, and this terms expires in 2007, is Karl V. Green. And the 2nd District, Seat 2, the terms expires in 2007, and that's Fred ...
MS. FLOYD: He's on his way.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Oh, he's on the way? Okay. Karl V. Green is the first one and ... let's see, so Mr. Green is the only one that is unopposed at this time that we can screen at this time, so Mr. Green, will you come forward; are you up?
MR. GREEN: (Mr. Green approaches.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Please raise your right hand, sir. I'll ask you the questions.
MR. GREEN: (Mr. Green does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any appointments or anything that would cause a conflict of interest, sir?
MR. GREEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your business relations would not be in jeopardy of, or anything --
MR. GREEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, sir. Do you have any health problems that we need to know about at this time?
MR. GREEN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you attended the meetings?
MR. GREEN: Yes, sir, I can attend the meetings.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Good. Go ahead. Any questions of Mr. Green? (No response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No questions. Mr. Green here was appointed by ... let me say, you were appointed by the Governor; right?
MR. GREEN: Yes, sir, I was.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's a Governor's appointee. Mr. Green is serving as a Governor's appointee. You have served almost a year so far; right?
MR. GREEN: I was, yes, sir. It's been almost a year now.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: About one year. Who did you replace, Mr. Green?
MR. GREEN: Mr. Arnold Collins.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Any questions for Mr. Green? Senator Alexander?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was just, I thought it was interesting ... am I reading correct there, Mr. Green, that you are actually a graduate of Benedict College?
MR. GREEN: Yes, sir, I am a '75 graduate of Benedict College. My wife and my son are graduates of South Carolina State University.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: And that's where your interest in SC State comes from?
MR. GREEN: Yes.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I was just curious about that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions? What's the pleasure of the committee on Mr. Green?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Move for approval.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Move for approval, Representative Littlejohn.
SENATOR KNOTTS: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second by Senator Knotts. All in ...
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Mr. Chairman, could I have one quick question?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah, yeah.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: A Gubernatorial appointee, did you serve a vacancy, or how were you appointed by the Governor?
MR. GREEN: Well, Mr. Collins had resigned from his seat, and the Governor appointed me to his seat.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Okay. And this is just ... the term is completed now except for a new term?
MR. GREEN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Let me clarify that, Senator. When we're not in session, the Governor has a right to appoint. He can't appoint any board trustees without, that is elected by this committee until we come back. They serve until we come back. Then they are up for election. So while we're in an interim, he can appoint somebody to serve that term but not as a full term. So they have to come back before the committee to be screened and be elected.
SENATOR KNOTTS: So will this be a full term that we're appointing ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No. He'll have ... it will be a three-year term. He's already done one year as interim from the Governor's office.
SENATOR PEELER: And this just more or less confirms that appointment?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes the Governor's appointees don't want to come back, and so that's why we have to screen and re- elect and make sure we get that done.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Let me clarify that, and then if for some reason he was not elected, then it would be like other boards and commissions that go through the Senate, the confirmation process, and that would end when our session ends in June; is that correct?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No. This does not require Senate confirmation.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Well, I know it's not Senate, but I'm just saying that the function of this committee, if he's not elected ...
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: It would open it back up.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Then that would ... for some reason, and I'm not saying on him, but I'm just saying for any Gubernatorial appointee, they have to be elected by the body, basically, before the next General Assembly ends for them to be able to continue to serve out the remainder of that term; is that correct?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's right.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Okay. So that's basically the same as ... you can make any interim appointment, but there has to be some positive action taken by the General Assembly, in this case, prior to us adjourning?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Right. We always try to ... when we hear of a vacancy, we try to get it in as quick as possible to prevent from having that appointment rather than being screened and selected by the whole General Assembly. Okay. Thank you, sir.
MR. GREEN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: On 3/15 [sic], you'll be able to solicit. Thank you, sir.
MR. GREEN: Thank you.
MS. FLOYD: 3/17.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 3/17. Yeah. I got 15. 3/17. All right. We'll go down to the 5th Congressional District, Seat 5, and Ms. Linda K. Edwards, is she here? Ms. Edwards?
MS. EDWARDS: Good afternoon.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good afternoon. Please raise your right hand, ma'am.
MS. EDWARDS: (Ms. Edwards does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any other positions in the community which cause or constitute dual office-holding?
MS. EDWARDS: No, sir, I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Your health problems have been good enough that you've made the board meetings and been very attentive to the meetings?
MS. EDWARDS: Yes, sir, they have.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. And you have no hobbies that would prevent you from any meetings, being on time or anything?
MS. EDWARDS: No, sir, I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, Linda Edwards, if you'll go ahead with your statement, please, ma'am.
MS. EDWARDS: Last year at this same time, I guess, I stood before you to complete an unexpired term for my district. And serving my university has been exciting, rewarding, humbling, as well as challenging. It has been exciting because as a State College alumni, continuing to see striving for excellence through our ninth President's vision has been very exciting, and also to see the many accomplishments that our university has had, is achieving has been rewarding. As an educator, I am committed to preparing students to meet the challenges and demands of life so that they can work and live productively in this dynamic global society in which we live. As a steward of the university, I am also challenged to extend my daily commitment to students at another stage in life but whose needs are no different. This task is not easy; however, I tackle it with enthusiasm and diligence. I have learned a lot in these few months, observing, working, listening, evaluating, interacting, participating and learning skills that are shaping me to become more adept at being a board member. I would like to continue my boardship. I would like to continue the legacy of South Carolina State College. University, I'm sorry. And I would like to see the upward mobility of my alma mater by serving as a board of trustee with the talented group that I am now a part of.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions of Ms. Edwards? Senator Peeler.
SENATOR PEELER: Ms. Edwards?
MS. EDWARDS: Yes?
SENATOR PEELER: Did you dodge the chicken wreck on the way?
MS. EDWARDS: Yes, I did. I met chickens for quite a while, and thank goodness, I was able to get through. They let us, they let a few cars through. So I was in that group.
SENATOR PEELER: I move for a favorable report, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, Ms. Edwards. You may have a seat.
MS. EDWARDS: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I want to discuss something with the committee. Mr. Bridges left. It's my understanding Earl Bridges has moved out of the 5th Congressional District to Summerville. I wish he had stayed here and verified that. Summerville is not in the 5th Congressional District; it's in the 2nd or 3rd, 1st Congressional District. And he was a resident of Cherokee County, Senator, and I understand he's bought a Ford dealership in Summerville. And even though he may have not ... I don't know the status of him at this time, but to my knowledge, he has moved to Summerville. And I'm not sure if he thinks his is a statewide seat, but you have to qualify from the 5th Congressional District. And therefore, by moving to Summerville, even if he doesn't move now and moves his family, which he has a family, after the schools let out in June, he wouldn't take office until July if he was elected. He's scheduled to come back on the 29th?
MS. FLOYD: He said he would be back on the 29th. Uh-huh (affirmative response).
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What is the pleasure of the committee? You want to just hold that one open and screen him at that time?
SENATOR KNOTTS: Mr. Chairman, could he be moved to ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No, sir. The filing date is closed for transferring him to another district because that wouldn't be fair for those who qualified. At-large would be the only place he could go at this time.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, why don't we find out his residence, because if he's disqualified himself, that settles it.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I would concur in that, Mr. Chairman. I think if you could get a letter from him stating where his residence is or something so that we would have that for the record and where ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Let's do that and save him a trip back.
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: Sure.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Because, I mean, right now, it's my understanding he doesn't, he's not a resident of Cherokee County anymore, and also serves on the Board of Trustees at Limestone College, and also serves on the Board of Trustees at Upstate Carolina Hospital. So either one of those would, I mean, you know, he'd have to resign from one of them. Two of them.
SENATOR PEELER: Mr. Chairman, then procedurally, then, would we have to open this back up?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No, we would not have to open it because Ms. Edwards is an incumbent.
SENATOR PEELER: Oh, they would be running against each other?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah.
SENATOR PEELER: I thought it was two different seats.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And that's why I was trying to clear it up where Ms. Edwards, where we know what we're going to do with Ms. Edwards. Let's ask him to verify ... would this motion be ... let's ask Sophie to clarify his address, and if he sends back that he is still a resident of Cherokee County, then we will screen him, but he's got to be. We can't receive his application ... I don't know how to handle it. I mean, you know, if he sends his address back as Cherokee County with the intentions of moving, then there's no point because it would be a moot situation. Before he even takes office, he'd be out of the district.
SENATOR KNOTTS: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir?
SENATOR KNOTTS: If he would have wanted to run for the Board, and knowing that he was going to have this problem and moving to Summerville, could he have filed and not actually lived in Summerville, could he have filed at the time?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. But at this time when he filed, he hadn't sold his dealership in Gaffney. He owns Peachtree Ford in Gaffney, and he has since sold Peachtree Ford and bought the Ford dealership in Summerville. That's all occurred in the last two or three weeks before, Senator ...
SENATOR KNOTTS: I'm just trying to figure out, you know, if he was in a "catch 22", that he was moving and he couldn't file down there, but he wanted to serve on the Board, so he filed where he was at, knowing that the deadline was coming up. That's my only question.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: The only other way he could ... he'll have to ... yeah, he'll have to sit out and wait for next year. There will be an opening in that district. He can come back for the 1st or whatever it is he lives in now. I think it's the 1st District or either one of the at-large seats.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman, has he been made aware that his legal residence determined whether or not he could continue to serve if elected?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That was in his folder that was sent to him.
SENATOR SHORT: Not only that he must live there when elected, but in order to continue serving, that he ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You've got to live there when you file.
SENATOR SHORT: But he was made aware of that?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: He filed ... it's in your folder that he gave his address as Cherokee County at that time, which was legal as far as being a candidate, but now he's since moved. Why don't we just ... Ms. Edwards, let me do this. Why don't we just wait because Ms. Edwards is unopposed anyway. Either way it goes, if she's ... because of the fact that if he's ruled ineligible for the 5th Congressional seat, at this time he would be, so it really doesn't matter. She has no opposition other than Earl Bridges.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, Senator.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I mean, I think we need to clarify it, though, because if he's going to, if he says he lives and is going to continue to live there ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: In Cherokee and commute back and forth to Summerville every day? That would clarify it. He could still be a candidate.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: I ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: But, he has to resign two other positions, and that would be appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of Limestone College, which he's just beginning a five-year term.
SENATOR ALEXANDER: So you may want to get clarification on that, too, if he would be willing to do that. And if he's not, then obviously, that's another wrinkle that would destine his service.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, let's ask Sophie to write him a letter and explain all these options to him and get an answer back before the 29th.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, he needs to tell this committee what he wants to do. We don't need to go through all this. He needs to tell us what he's going to do.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, I'm sorry if we ... he was here, but we were late and ... he was here, right?
MS. FLOYD: Yeah, he was here.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: He was here according to ...
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: And Just to follow that, we ought to do, what's appropriate to be done, too, as it relates to ...
SENATOR KNOTTS: He'll be coming back; won't he?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: On the 29th.
SENATOR KNOTTS: In the meantime, find out. He may just give you a withdrawal letter.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We'll save him a, you know, ... We'll get together and draft him a letter and ask him to answer those four questions and tell him, make him doubly aware that he has to give up some of those positions. He may not want to do that. All right. We'll move on then. Ms. Edwards, if you will just remain kind of cool until we get a chance to clear this up, we'll be back, notify you in the mail; okay?
MS. EDWARDS: All right.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. While we've got Linda Edwards here, Senator Peeler made ... Senator Peeler, you made the motion to ...
SENATOR PEELER: Favorable report on Ms. Edwards.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Favorable, so, and now a second from Senator Knotts that you're qualified. So you don't have to come back. We want to clear that up.
MS. EDWARDS: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We'll let you know what's happening through the mail. Sophie will send you a letter; okay?
MS. EDWARDS: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Now, we'll go to At-large, Seat 8, Neville Lorick. Mr. Lorick?
MS. FLOYD: You skipped six.
MR. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Excuse me, Mr. Lorick, if you'll sit back down just a second. I skipped 6th. I'm sorry. Mr. Maurice G. Washington. Maurice?
MR. WASHINGTON: Morning.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Please raise your right hand, sir. Mr. Washington, you haven't been appointed to any other positions or hold any positions that would cause a conflict of interest; do you?
MR. WASHINGTON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you have any health problems that the committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. WASHINGTON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your business or profession doesn't hold any conflict either; does it, sir?
MR. WASHINGTON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. WASHINGTON: You have my statement of interest on file. I just want to briefly add that I've been involved with South Carolina State University either directly or indirectly for about 26 years. My wife and I are both graduates of South Carolina State University. I've served as President of the Charleston Alumni Chapter for several years. This is my third year as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. I've worked hard over the past four years, perfect attendance record, never missed a meeting. We're doing some great things at South Carolina State. We've forged wonderful relationships with the General Assembly, constitutional offices of the state, and we continue to make headways and blaze new trails. A lot of work still left to be done, looking forward to engaging in the process for another four years. I'd be more than happy to respond to any questions at this time.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir, Representative Littlejohn.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Washington, what's the number one problem you see at SC State?
MR. WASHINGTON: Deferred maintenance. We have approximately identified over $37 plus million in deferred maintenance.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: We put money into the budget for that, a little bit, so that'll help.
MR. WASHINGTON: Every bit counts, sir. We appreciate it very much.
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: We'll take care of all of that.
MR. WASHINGTON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions for Mr. Maurice Washington? (No response.)
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Approval.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No other questions? Mr. Washington, please sit down, sir.
MR. WASHINGTON: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Now we have Daniel W. Blue, Jr. who is the opposition to the incumbent, Mr. Washington. Mr. Blue? Please raise your right hand if you're able, sir.
MR. BLUE: (Mr. Blue does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any other elected position which would cause a dual office- holding, sir?
MR. BLUE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your line of business, would it conflict with this school, make a conflict of interest?
MR. BLUE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I see you're on crutches, but do you have any other health problems other than that?
MR. BLUE: No, sir, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Go ahead with your statement, sir.
MR. BLUE: Yes, sir. Ladies and Gentlemen, just let me say that I was in a very serious automobile accident seven months ago. A trailer disconnected from the truck and came onto my lane and hit me. And a cable truck hit me. But I'm pretty well recovered now. The doctor said all the bones have been connected, and I just need to go on my crutches for another five or six weeks. So I just want to say that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. Thank you for clearing that up, sir.
MR. BLUE: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Can you give us a short, brief statement?
MR. BLUE: Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my statement is on file. I'm from the Pee Dee area, probably the highest unemployment area within the State of South Carolina. I live in Marion County, and I do know we are 18.2 percent. I'm very active in the community, very active in my church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and I'm also active with Economic Development Commission, the commission that seeks to bring jobs into the county. We have a big problem, and we realize that one of the problems that we have is a lack of education when the companies come and take a look at us. And we realize that we need to begin to connect with higher education, colleges, so we can get our people trained in the appropriate technological fields to encourage companies to come to our Pee Dee region. So I'm here representing the community. People asked me to apply so that we could begin to connect the universities and the tech schools and the job opportunity programs together so that we can show business and industry that we are capable of handling jobs when they come to the Pee Dee region. So I'm here for that, born and raised in South Carolina, attended elementary school, high school and college, and very much involved with the community. And I'm very interested in doing whatever I can to encourage businesses and industries to not look away from the Pee Dee and Marion County, in particular, but to know that we're doing everything we can to create people who are responsible and interested in doing quality jobs for them if they so desire to come. I'm here to answer any questions from the Chairman and members of the committee.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any committee members got questions of Mr. Blue?
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Short.
SENATOR SHORT: Mr. Blue, do you have a connection with South Carolina State University ...
MR. BLUE: No, I don't have ...
SENATOR SHORT: ... any of your children or anything like that?
MR. BLUE: No, I don't have a connection with South Carolina State at all from that standpoint. I did attend school in Orangeburg. I attended Claflin University, and a lot of my friends attended South Carolina State, and a lot of my friends now are members of the South Carolina State organizations.
SENATOR SHORT: Have you familiarized yourself with the programs offered at South Carolina State, and what do you see as the most pressing need that they have?
MR. BLUE: I don't know the most pressing need that they have there since I'm not on the inside, but I think one of the most pressing needs that we're concerned about in the Pee Dee area is to be able to get people enrolled in South Carolina State and other universities to prepare them, to encourage businesses and industries to come into our area. I know quite a bit about policy and finance and housing and those kind of things. I know we do a lot of construction work. I have a lot of experience in that. I have run the second largest housing [inaudible] in America in Chicago, so I do know about construction and bids and contracts, et cetera.
SENATOR SHORT: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any other questions for Mr. Blue? (No Response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None? What is the pleasure of the committee on Mr. Washington and Mr. Blue?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
SENATOR KNOTTS: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Short moves favorable report; second by Senator Knotts. All in favor, say "aye".
COMMITTEE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I assume Mack Drayton in the 6th District has withdrawn, so we don't have to worry about him so that leaves Mr. Washington and Mr. Blue able to seek on the 17th at 11:00, the 6th District, Seat 6. Now, we'll get to At-large, Seat 8, and now, Mr. Lorick, you come up. Do you hold any public position that would cause you to violate the dual office-holding?
MR. LORICK: No, I have not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How has your attendance been with the Board since you've been on it?
MR. LORICK: It's been very good. I've been participating since the year 2000, and I've been participating since that time.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. A short statement, sir.
MR. LORICK: As I said, it's an opportunity. I appreciate the opportunity to be considered for reappointment. I have served since the year 2000 as Vice-Chair and presently as Secretary, and I was recently appointed as Chairman to the Audit Committee. There are a number of initiatives that the university has taken on, and I would like to see those concluded and pushed forward so we can continue to achieve some of the things that we need to achieve. And with that said, I have a vested interest as President of South Carolina Electric and Gas that we produce high quality students in all our universities, and particularly from the aspect that we'll be hiring a number of those folks within our business and other businesses. So I'd like very much to pursue and continue this process.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Questions of Mr. Lorick? (No Response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None? Thank you, sir. All right. Mr. Thaddeus J. Bell. Mr. Bell, would you please raise your right hand?
MR. BELL: (Mr. Bell does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected position that would cause a dual office- holding?
MR. BELL: No, I have not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, sir. Do you have any health problems that the committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. BELL: No, I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your businesses would not have any conflict of interest?
MR. BELL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
MR. BELL: My name is Thaddeus John Bell. I'm a practicing physician in Charleston, South Carolina. I'm currently in private practice, and I also serve as Associate Dean for Minority Affairs at the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. I'm a native of Columbia and a graduate of South Carolina State College. I am interested in my alma mater and have been since I graduated. The reason that I'm interested in being on the board, I'm interested in seeing the school go to the next level in all aspects. I think that I could bring something to the board inasmuch as I have been involved in higher education for a little more than ten years. I'm the immediate past Chairman of the Office of Diversity at the Medical University of South Carolina, so I am in academia still from a medical standpoint and also in private practice. And I love the university and, as I pointed out, have been involved in many aspects of its development already. So that is why I am seeking appointment to the board.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any questions for Mr. Bell?
REPRESENTATIVE HINES: I'd just like to make an observation, Mr. Chairman. As a former student and graduate of South Carolina State University, I'm happy to hear you report your dedicated service to the school because it's so much needed, and I commend you in your efforts in doing that.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, Representative Hines. Any other comments or statements, questions? (No Response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None? What's the pleasure of the committee on Mr. Lorick and Mr. Bell?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
SENATOR KNOTTS: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Short moves for favorable, and second by Senator Knotts. They've been voted favorable and may start soliciting on 3/17 at 11:00 for Seat At-large, number 8. Thank you, sir.
MR. BELL: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You may leave if you'd like, any of you that we've already screened. We'll go to At-large Seat Number 10, and Dr. William C. Clinkscales, the incumbent. Dr. Clinkscales?
DR. CLINKSCALES: Morning. Good afternoon.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Please raise your right hand, sir.
DR. CLINKSCALES: (Dr. Clinkscales does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You haven't been appointed to any other position that would cause dual office-holding?
DR. CLINKSCALES: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your health problems have still been good?
DR. CLINKSCALES: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You make board meetings and no conflict of interest of any nature, sir?
DR. CLINKSCALES: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Go ahead, sir.
DR. CLINKSCALES: Thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I'm originally from Clemson, South Carolina. I'm a graduate of South Carolina State University, also Clemson University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. I retired from Clemson University in 1998, as Assistant Director of Field Operation which was supervision and management of all field staff. I've served on the Board of Trustees, and I'm going into my eighth year. While serving on the Board, I served three years as Chair of the Board at South Carolina State University. During my tenure on the Board and as Chair, I instituted, put in place, an endowment for the Board of Trustees to give scholarships to needy and desirable students who want to come to South Carolina State University. One of my concerns at the university is that we increase private giving to the institution in an expedient manner. It is my interest to continue serving on the Board and to look at fulfilling some of the things that we've set in place over the last seven years at the institution. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Dr. Clinkscales?
SENATOR ALEXANDER: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Alexander moves favorable, do I hear a second?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Second from Representative Martin. All in favor, signify "aye".
COMMITTEE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ayes have it. Okay. Mr. Pinson. Jonathan Pinson. Mr. Pinson, please raise your right hand, sir.
MR. PINSON: (Mr. Pinson does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, will the information given here today be the truth, so help you God?
MR. PINSON: Yes.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any office that would cause dual office-holding, sir?
MR. PINSON: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health-related problems the committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. PINSON: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any business conflicts that might be a conflict of interest with South Carolina State?
MR. PINSON: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None; thank you, sir.
MR. PINSON: Good afternoon. As you've seen in my statement that I submitted, I'm a graduate from South Carolina State University as well as my wife. I finished up in 1993, and since then has been blessed to grow the largest diversity- owned company in the State of South Carolina in Greenville, South Carolina. We have a staffing company, and we're an employment agency, and we've been able to place over 10,000 people in various jobs over the last 12 years and feel like the relationships we have in Greenville is one that's very vital to South Carolina State University. I've been involved in the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, been Vice Chair for Minority Business there, Department of Economic Development Team. A lot of our clients are BMW, Michelin, GE, Lockheed Martin. We just picked up a deal with Blue Cross down here in Columbia. We'll be meeting with Toyota on Tuesday, and we're building some national relationships that we feel like is critical to South Carolina State University because we have the ICAR project going on in Greenville, and that's going more towards research which is the future of technology for the business climate here in the state. And I feel like Clemson is involved, USC is doing some things, and it looks like South Carolina State is kind of getting left out. We need to build that relationship to get them more involved in some of the business climate because as we're working with our clients, what they're looking for, the applicant keeps changing. The skill set is changing, and it's changing rapidly because South Carolina is recruiting a lot of international companies, and we've got to be on the cusp of making sure that our students are ready for that dynamic change and not giving them basic education, but giving them something that's a little bit more advanced, that will get them ready and prepared once they get in a work place. And our relationships with BMW and Michelin and so forth and so on, I think, would be critical for South Carolina State University going forward. The experience in being able to place folks on the jobs and keeping up with the changes of technology and what companies are looking for would be very vital. And, you know, relatively, as a young individual, really standing on the cusp of knowing and being able to talk to these students, because it's definitely a change in environment, and companies are looking for it. I also served on the South Carolina Competitiveness Council which is headed by Ed Sellers, Governor Sanford, Bob Faith, Darla Moore, and several other community leaders from across the state. They're starting to look at how can we make South Carolina competitive. And one of the things that Michael Porter, who's done this report that probably many of you have heard of, is saying that we've got to look at our asset. Our asset is what we have internally here in the State of South Carolina because South Carolina has been so focused on trying to land the next BMW, and that's getting competitive because we're not competing with just Georgia and North Carolina; we're competing with China and Asia and Malaysia and other foreign companies, so we're now putting more emphasis on what we have here in South Carolina, how do we enhance what we have in South Carolina, which will make us more competitive, and we're keeping those dollars circulating internally in the state. So with all the different programs I'm on and been involved in, over the last two years have been voted in Greenville's Magazine one of the top 50 influential in Greenville and want to be able to take all the accolades that I've been blessed with and be able to offer that to the university to help get South Carolina State on that very competitive level when it comes down to historical, national black colleges on a national level. I think we're doing a great job. I think the Board has done a great job, and I just want to be a part of the Board and be able to enhance what they're already doing down there.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any questions for Mr. Pinson?
SENATOR PEELER: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Peeler moves favorable, Jonathan Pinson. All in favor signify by saying "aye".
COMMITTEE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Okay. Dr. Clinkscales and Jonathan Pinson on 3/17 at 11:00 you may solicit support for Seat Number 10, At-large. Thank you, sir. Okay. We'll go to Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School, and it's at-large; there are three seats at-large. Russell E. Hart, Elizabeth Thrailkill ... and Mr. James L. Angle could not be here today; is that right? And Stewart Cooner. We'll ask Mr. Hart. Russell? Sir, please raise your right hand, Mr. Hart.
MR. HART: (Mr. Hart does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You haven't been appointed to any other positions that would cause dual office-holding?
MR. HART: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And your health's been good enough you've made the Board meetings?
MR. HART: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I think you're Chair of the Board out there; right?
MR. HART: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. Do you have any conflicts of interest, nothing to do that would conflict if you serve?
MR. HART: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. If you could give us a brief statement.
MR. HART: Okay. My career was in the public service field, a teacher and coach in the public schools of South Carolina, YMCA work, and parks and recreation work and have had an interest in youth, and it's been my pleasure and rewarding to be a part of an institution that has given our youth of the state a second chance, those that are at risk, and in order to help modify their behavior, for them to become productive citizens, have a positive impact rather than negative impact in society. And I'd like to very much continue my association with that fine institution.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Any questions for Mr. Russell Hart?
SENATOR KNOTTS: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We will ask Ms. Elizabeth Thrailkill to come forward.
MR. HART: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Good morning, Ms. Thrailkill. Please raise your right hand.
MS. THRAILKILL: (Ms. Thrailkill does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You haven't been appointed to any position that would cause dual office- holding since elected to the Board; have you, Ms. Thrailkill?
MS. THRAILKILL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And no conflict of interest?
MS. THRAILKILL: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And no health problems?
MS. THRAILKILL: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I wish you'd have been along this morning and got all them chickens. Don't you have the alligator pond?
MS. THRAILKILL: No, I don't, and I'm just glad they were chickens instead of turkeys.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I thought y'all were going to have an alligator pond.
MS. THRAILKILL: Well, I think they're working on that still as a way ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I thought about you when I saw all them chickens.
MS. THRAILKILL: I said I hope they're not turkeys because that means a loss.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah, a greater loss for the turkeys. Okay. Go ahead, Ms. Thrailkill.
MS. THRAILKILL: Mr. Chairman, committee members, thank you for your time today. I know it's been a time getting here, but, and I also want to thank you all, too, for being a part of the body that has supported the school over the years with your legislation, and it's very important to us. I'm currently an incumbent and Vice Chair of the Board, and I'm seeking reelection. You've got my resume or statement, and I knew Dr. Gray personally, and I think the statement about her was so very true. The members of the General Assembly often said that she was like getting chewing gum in your hair. If you didn't ... when she got her mind made up that she wanted something, she came to you, and you might as well give it to her or you had chewing gum in your hair. Her motto was lifelong learning, and she was a true pioneer of that, and she's still an inspiration for my service currently on that board. I knew her, and I guess that her mission in life is something that I just can't get away from, working with young people in some capacity and being on this board. We have a wonderful board and a wonderful school and a very fine Director that is an inspiration to want to be and continue to be on this board. We just appreciate all the things that y'all have done, and I'm a typical school teacher, I have a handout for you at some point so those of you who might not remember, this is Dr. Gray. This is a small booklet on the school and her mission as it began. You know, she really was quite a person. Strom Thurmond taught for her one summer, so she does have a legacy in this state, and I just have one for each of you on the screening committee.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Any questions of Ms. Thrailkill?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Move favorable. All right. Thank you very much. Now, we'll let Stewart Cooner. Mr. Cooner?
MR. COONER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Please raise your right hand, sir.
MR. COONER: (Mr. Cooner does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. COONER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You don't hold any other elected positions, appointed positions that would cause a dual office-holding?
MR. COONER: I do serve as a Guardian ad Litem for the Eleventh Judicial District which is Lexington and Saluda County, but I do not think that it will cause a conflict, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I don't think, so. Sir, do you have any business other than that that might cause a conflict of interest?
MR. COONER: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about your health problems; you have none?
MR. COONER: None, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Go ahead, Mr. Cooner.
MR. COONER: As each of you members well know, our founding fathers built this country on the belief that it was our right and our duty to act when we felt action was necessary. And they told us that those who have the ability to act also have the responsibility to act. I want to help make a difference in the lives of the students of Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School by helping to create opportunities for their success. I have the ability; I have the responsibility. And I do not take that responsibility lightheartedly. I am serious about serving. Tomorrow should be filled with the hope of future successes, not just seen as another day gone by. Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School builds the foundation on which that hope can become reality, and I would love to be a part of that hope and a part of that reality. Those students deserve it, and they're worth it.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Cooner? None?
SENATOR KNOTTS: Mr. Chairman, I move for a favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Knotts and several others move favorable on Russell Hart, Elizabeth Thrailkill and Stewart Cooner. All in favor signify by saying "aye".
COMMITTEE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Now, James Angle is also a candidate for a seat at-large, three seats, so we would ask you not to solicit until after we screen Mr. Angle. That would not be fair to him because he hasn't been screened to go out and solicit early. I'm sorry that had to happen, but he's not here today. We would have taken him next week, but we're on the budget, and the House is coming in at 11:00 on Monday which was, supposedly we were going to screen next Monday, and then we had to put that off. So, and the next week, the House is out of session, so there's nobody here, so it will be 3/29 before we screen Mr. Angle. And it shouldn't take but maybe a day to process those three or four that we're going to have to screen. I think it's going to be a total of about four, and so we should have that in the journal early on Tuesday of the next following week. So after that, I'd say by Wednesday of the following week you others would solicit.
MR. COONER: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We'll let you know by mail on it.
MR. COONER: Okay. Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. All right. At-large, Seat 1. This is a seat that expires in 2008. It's for a three-year term, and we have Mr. John W. Robinson. Mr. Robinson? Mr. Robinson, will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. ROBINSON: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. Okay. Do you hold any other elected or appointed positions that might cause a dual office-holding?
MR. ROBINSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any health problems we need to know about?
MR. ROBINSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And none of your business or hobbies would prevent you from serving as a member of the board?
MR. ROBINSON: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir.
MR. ROBINSON: Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I come to you with a humble heart in asking your permission to serve on the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity's board. I have 35 years experience in the field of public education. I've been a teacher, head teacher of an alternative school in Richland School District One for at-risk youth. I have been Coordinator for Alternative Program for At-Risk Youth for Richland School District One, an assistant principal. I've been Principal of the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School, so I have that experience and background. I've also served ten years at the South Carolina Department of Education in such positions as Director of the Office of Accreditation and Assessment. I was also Director of the Office of Teacher Certification. I retired as a Deputy Superintendent in the Horry County School District. I also served as an ex officio member of the board, so I'm very familiar with the board. During the administration of Dr. Charlie Williams, I represented Dr. Williams on the board, and I also represented Dr. Bobby Nelson as an ex officio member of the Wil Lou Gray Board of Trustees. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Mr. Robinson? None. Thank you, sir. Okay. Mr. Wayne Sims. Please raise your right hand, Mr. Sims.
MR. SIMS: (Mr. Sims does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. SIMS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you hold any other elected positions in the community that would cause dual office-holding, sir?
MR. SIMS: I only hold two. I don't know that it would be a problem. [inaudible] Review Board of my local district, and also I'm a member of the Hartsville Municipality Election Commission.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Election Commission would cause a constitution, would cause one, sir.
MR. SIMS: Okay. I ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you, would you, if you're elected, would you ...
MR. SIMS: Resign.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... resign that position? If you're elected, you promise to resign that commission?
MR. SIMS: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Go ahead with your statement, then.
MR. SIMS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members. First of all, when I got married, my wife and I had to make a decision. We either had to decide to serve or to be served. We decided to serve. We had two young daughters that we became very actively involved in their schooling, their outside activities, and what they were doing with their friends. And today I'm very proud of those two girls. They're both married. Both of them are college graduates. One is a pharmacist, and the other one is a social worker. Each one of them have one boy, and we have two sons-in-law, of course. I could have never done it by myself. My wife was my helpmate. Let me tell you, I'm a product of a first generation college graduate. Both of my parents were not even high school graduates. I started college back in 1968, when the University of South Carolina was at Florence which is now Francis Marion University. I went for two years, however, I was able to work and pay for two years, but in making the transition to Columbia, I was not financially able to do so at that time. A good friend of mine, he elected to go into the Air Force because he fell in the same situation, and I elected to stay back. I had initially agreed to go with him, but I elected to stay back. The reason I'm telling you some of this information is, you don't know where you're going unless you know where you've been. And I've been there. I went to work with Sunoco Products in Hartsville, South Carolina, I was very fortunate, right after we got married. And Sunoco provided me an opportunity to go back to college. Taking my lunch hours and going to classes at night, I was able to finish Coker College in 1976. Not only did I graduate from Coker College, but I immediately sought out where I could go to graduate school. I found Golden Gate University at Shaw Air Force Base. And by driving four nights a week, studying weekends, two and three of us teamed together, and we were able to graduate in 1978 after two hard years of commuting from Hartsville to Sumter. In 1981, there were some cutbacks at Sunoco, and I found myself looking for employment elsewhere. Fortunately enough, I was able to go to work with Florence- Darlington Technical College in 1982, the best day of my life. I started out in continuing education, and I'm still in continuing education. That's almost 30 years in education. People ask me what is continuing education, and it's a simple answer. It's everything you learn until you take the last breath, and then you know what your continuing education is. I've enjoyed educational opportunities, working with young people. I'm a basketball and football certified high school official. I've been officiating basketball for 38 years, and I guess I've officiated over 2,200 basketball games, girls and boys. Football games, I've officiated over 725, I've figured, in my years. I could have never done it without the support of my wife and my family. I'm here today for the opportunity to continue to serve. I saw the ad like lots of people did, and it reminded me of a story I heard one of my politicians tell who was elected as a Congressional House member. He talked about when he was a young boy, he and his dad drove through the country in the old pickup truck, and one day they ran across a branch that had fell across the road. And his dad said, he told his dad, said, "Dad, somebody should get out and move this limb so we can get by." And his dad looked at him and said, "You are somebody." When I saw the ad, someone has to serve, and, as I stated earlier, my wife and I made an obligation to serve and not to be served. And I appreciate your listening to me today and for your consideration.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Any questions for Mr. Sims? None? Any questions for Mr. Sims? (No Response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. All right, sir. Now, to William Champy, Jr. Mr. William Champy, Jr.? Did he sign in this morning?
MS. FLOYD: No.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: He did not. Okay. All right. What we'll ... we'll notify Mr. Champy that he will have to appear on the 29th or we'll have to rule him as ineligible to run because that's our next screening. I'll ask the staff to notify Mr. Champy that he was not here today, he did not notify us that he was not coming, so, you know, anything could have happened. We'll give him the benefit of the doubt, so a letter will be sent to him that he'll have to appear on the 29th or be disqualified. Now, what is the pleasure for John Robinson and Wayne Sims?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
SENATOR KNOTTS: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Favorable report on each one, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Sims, by Senator Short and Senator Knotts. All in favor signify by saying "aye".
COMMITTEE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And Mr. Robinson, Mr. Sims, I'm sorry you won't be able to solicit until after we find out if Mr. Champy is going to withdraw. If he does, we'll notify you by mail as quick as possible. We'll try to contact him as quick as we can to see if he has withdrawn or what's the situation with him. If not, you will be able sometime after the 29th, and I suspect that would be the Wednesday following. So thank you very much. Now, we'll go to Winthrop University, At-large, Seat Number 7, Angela H. Bain. Please raise your right hand.
MS. BAIN: (Ms. Bain does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. BAIN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Ms. Bain, do you have any elected positions that the committee would consider as dual office-holding?
MS. BAIN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. How about health-related problems? Any that we need to know about?
MS. BAIN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No activities or hobbies or business activities that would cause a conflict of interest?
MS. BAIN: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Thank you very much. Go ahead.
MS. BAIN: I appreciate the time this afternoon. Mr. Chair, members of the Screening Committee, I know we've been in here for a while, and Winthrop starts with a W, so we get to be the last one. Well, coming in here, I'm assuming you're all from Winthrop. We're the only ones left. I am a graduate of Winthrop College, as you can see in my packet. I represent higher education and public education, P12 education, because I do teach in higher ed. I teach at Converse College part-time. I'm working with Converse with their INCATE accreditation, which is a teacher education accreditation program for the national accreditation. I also am a Personnel Director in Lexington School District Two right across the bridge here in Cayce-West Columbia. Mr. Knotts, we work together a great deal with Mr. Knotts and appreciate everything that all of you do for public education. I am very interested in serving on the Board at Winthrop because I've been there since 1976, graduated in '79, and I lived in Rock Hill, so I'm familiar with that territory. I also am familiar with the Alumni Association. I've been reading all the magazines. I get those every quarter, as do the other alumni. As a former student, I understand the importance of what a foundation Winthrop can give you. I've taken what I've learned in my career in psychology and expanded on that. I think everybody has to have that kind of opportunity, and, I guess, capitalizing on the President's latest report, I guess you could call it a conceptual framework, he talks about students ... that Winthrop needs to prepare students to be globally inter-dependent, and how we do that, we have to have the technology and the diversity in both the faculty and the students, and we have to recruit those diverse faculty and students. So I think that with my experience in traveling around the nation as a Board of Examiners member for the teacher accreditation programs, I can take a look at other colleges, other universities, and I do know that Winthrop is competitive in those fields. So I appreciate your time and will answer any questions for any of you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Any questions of Ms. Bain? (No Response.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Thank you very much.
MS. BAIN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: How about Mr. Tim Gause? Please raise your right hand, sir.
MR. GAUSE: (Mr. Gause does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. GAUSE: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any elected or appointed position within your community that would cause a dual office-holding?
MR. GAUSE: I am a member of the Lancaster County Commission for Higher Education. I do not believe that that is a conflict.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Is that a ... how are you elected there?
MR. GAUSE: I was appointed.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Did you take an oath of office?
MR. GAUSE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Your business would not cause a conflict of interest?
MR. GAUSE: I work for Duke Power. We do provide energy to Winthrop University.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You don't have any health reasons, ...
MR. GAUSE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... related problems that would cause you not to serve? Go ahead Mr. Gause.
MR. GAUSE: Well, thank you for the opportunity to be here with you this afternoon. I became familiar with Winthrop as I worked on my MBA and completed my MBA there last year, and also have had an opportunity to work with the leadership at Winthrop through community events, their participation and my participation in public policy matters and forums and through the Chamber of Commerce. I've participated with Winthrop rising seniors in business administration by offering them best business practices in small groups in a campus setting there at the university. I have good business experience in economic development and public policy and chairing Economic Development Corporation in Lancaster County. I chaired the Public Policy Committee in Lancaster County, chaired the Government Relations Task Force in York County through the Chamber. And one of the things that I want to provide is a linkage between Winthrop University and the business world. I believe that I can connect the dots between business and economic development. We've got a wonderful campus situated in the heart of a growing area in the Piedmont, and I think that Winthrop is a tool or needs to be a tool in the tool kit for economic development for our region. The second point that I would like to make is with regard to my interest in becoming a Trustee is that I think it's important to maintain a diversity on the board at Winthrop. And by that, I mean a diversity and a balance between educators and business leaders on that board. This year Bob Thompson is stepping down. He is the person who has served on the Trustee Board, and he's a businessman. Next year we will lose another businessperson on the Board, and I think it's very, very critical and vital to keep a good blend of business and education on the Board of Trustees at Winthrop. Any questions?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Any questions for Mr. Gause?
REPRESENTATIVE LITTLEJOHN: Mr. Chairman, just for the record, can we get a ruling on the ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah. I was going to tell him that we will ... we will have to get a ruling on whether that committee that you serve on constitutes dual office-holding.
MR. GAUSE: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Would you be willing to resign that if it did?
MR. GAUSE: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We'll let you know on that. We'll have to review that one.
MR. GAUSE: Okay.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Any other questions?
SENATOR SHORT: Move favorable report.
SENATOR KNOTTS: Second.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Move favorable report on Ms. Bain and Mr. Gause by Senator Short, second by Senator Knotts. All in favor signify by saying "aye". COMMITTEE: Aye.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Mr. Raghu Korrapati and Susan J. Smith-Rex are not here, and they will be screened on the 29th, so that means that for that Winthrop seat, Winthrop will not be able to solicit until the Wednesday following the 29th.
SENATOR KNOTTS: Did you also do Charles Barnes?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Who? Now we'll ask ... I believe we had someone to leave and come back? Fred Gallant?
MS. FLOYD: He's on his way.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: He's on the way. All right. Anybody else here to be screened, we haven't skipped any names or anything? Okay. Then you're welcome to go. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you for putting your application and wanting to serve the State of South Carolina on various boards and commissions, and we appreciate that opportunity to meet and talk with you here this morning. We're waiting on Mr. Gallant, and while he's on his way, we can continue on with the election of officers. The election of officers should be at this time. (Off the Record)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: 2nd District, Seat 2, unexpired term, 2007, Mr. Frederick R. Gallant.
MR. GALLANT: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: In person.
MR. GALLANT: Yes, it's me, for sure.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Please raise your right hand.
MR. GALLANT: (Mr. Gallant does as requested.)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. GALLANT: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, do you hold any other elected or appo inted positions that would cause a dual office-holding?
MR. GALLANT: No, I don't.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any health- related problems the committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. GALLANT: No, I don't.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any hobbies that would cause you not to be able to attend or any conflict of interest where you wouldn't be able to attend the board meetings?
MR. GALLANT: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: If elected, and you are elected. All right, sir. Just give us a brief, brief, brief statement.
MR. GALLANT: Okay. Well, thank you. I appreciate your patience in allowing us to get here today. As I said in my original writeup, I have a firm interest in being on the Board of Trustees at South Carolina State University. The university is the one that I've been familiar with basically all of my life. My father attended the university. My siblings did also, so I have a true love for the university. And also I feel that I would be an asset to the Board of Trustees given my business background. I think I can bring a lot of business and acumen to the board in helping them grow the university, reaching out to communities, reaching out to other businesses to help grow the financial base of the university also.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Have you got any questions of Mr. Gallant? Representative Martin.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: So I take it that Representative Taylor here is a friend of yours?
MR. GALLANT: We're associates, yes, ma'am.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Well, that's a plus.
MR. GALLANT: Well, that's good. Thank you.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: It sound like that you've got a lot of good things going here. I'll just make a motion that we approve his application also.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You make a motion that we ...
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Since he's already ...
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: ... give him clearance that he can go ahead and start soliciting on 3/17, next Thursday at 11:00?
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Do we have any others that we have to wait for?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No others.
REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN: Yes, sir, I do.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you so much for wanting and being willing to serve. And we'll see you on the 17th or thereafter.
MR. GALLANT: All right. Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma 'am.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: On the 3/17 at 11:00, you are eligible to have Mr. Taylor start walking for you.
MR. GALLANT: Okay. All right.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you.
MR. GALLANT: Thank you. I appreciate your patience. Thank you. All right. (Concluded at 1:40 p.m.)

The candidate screening was conducted on March 7th, 2005 at 427 Blatt Building, Columbia, South Carolina, on the 29th day of March, 2005 before Sonya K. Grice, Court Reporter and Notary Public in and for the State of South Carolina.

APPEARANCES:
Representative Olin Phillips
Senator Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.

ALSO PRESENT:
Sophia Floyd

CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We'll call the meeting to order. This is a summation of candidates that were not able to attend the Joint Legislative Screening Committee for Boards and Commissions on Colleges and Universities on March 7th we screened numerous candidates for these positions. And today we are having a followup and we'll be screening Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School at-large, and also we'll be screening Winthrop University seat at-large. And I'd like to introduce you to the ones that are here. Senator Peeler from Cherokee, Spartanburg, Union, York, everywhere in the upstate, I always say to him. And certainly Sophia Floyd, our staff member, and Sonya with the Creel agency who will be taking our minutes here today and then transcribing them later. And I am Olin Phillips from Cherokee, Chairman of the Joint Legislative Screening Committee. At this time, I would like to go ahead and ask the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School at-large, Mr. James Angle. Mr. Angle, come around, please, sir. Before we start, I'd like to introduce Scott Ramsey, who is the Assistant to Senator Peeler, staff assistant. Okay. Mr. Angle, please raise your right hand, sir. Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. ANGLE: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. Mr. Angle, do you hold any other elected positions that would cause a conflict of dual office-holding?
MR. ANGLE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Now, do you have any health problems that the Committee needs to be made aware of?
MR. ANGLE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any hobbies, personal or anything that would be a conflict of interest by serving on the Board at Wil Lou Gray?
MR. ANGLE: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Well, give us a short statement, sir.
MR. ANGLE: Sir, as a graduate of the Opportunity School, I believe that all of my accomplishments are a direct result of that school. I was a high school dropout. I realized I needed an education, and the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School afforded me that opportunity to get a GED and get a State diploma. Since graduating there, I've completed an MBA and an MS in Engineering Technology, currently enrolled in the National Defense University, certified CIO for the Department of Defense, and I hold several certifications in the computer area. Everything that I've gotten I believe is a result of my participation in the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School. They instilled in me a passion for education that, still today, I still have. This is a school that is for many of us a school of last resort. If it had not been for them, myself and many other students would not ever get a chance to proceed on in education. And with that in mind is the reason I want to apply for this position and to serve on the Board of Trustees is that I really believe I owe the school something for all they have given me.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Sir, what year did you finish?
MR. ANGLE: I graduated in - I got my GED in 1970 and graduated June of '71.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: I want to commend you for the accomplishments you've made because it seems like you most probably were in a troubled position at one time by having to attend Wil Lou Gray, that's what that school is about, trying to bring kids back into the mainstream when they seem to want to get to the left sometimes. And I want to commend you for the accomplishments you've made.
MR. ANGLE: Thank you, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And thank you for what you said about Wil Lou Gray. We think the same thing. Senator, do you have any questions for Mr. Angle?
SENATOR PEELER: No, sir. I agree with what you said and I move for a favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yes, sir. Okay. Mr. Angle, we will have, possibly by Thursday, we should have this in the Journal, and after the Journal is printed on Thursday, you may seek support for this seat you're running for. That's probably, I'd say 11:00 Thursday. We'll have it in there when we come in that morning, and I'll read it, and I'll make them aware that it's in the Journal. They can look at the Journal, read what you have just said to us. It will be published, and we'll let you solicit votes after 11:00 Thursday. Thank you, sir. Thank you for coming.
MR. ANGLE: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. And now we'll have Mr. William F. Champy, Jr. Mr. Champy? Okay. Is Mr. John Shennan here?
MR. SHENNAN: Yes, sir, I am.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Shennan, would you come around, sir? Mr. Shennan, before I swear you, we're going to let you screen for - Senator, this is one filling a position of Butch Spires who just passed, and rather than holding another committee meeting, I decided to let Mr. Shennan come before us today, and the screening report today will be subject to his SLED report and any other information that we mark him favorable, but I thought we'd just do it all at one time while we had an opportunity to get him here. So, Mr. Shennan, will you please raise your right hand? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. SHENNAN: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Shennan, do you hold any other elected positions --
MR. SHENNAN: I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Appointed or any other positions? Nothing?
MR. SHENNAN: I'm on the Work Force Investment Board for Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. And, sir, you don't have any health problems that would constitute your not being able to make the Board meetings?
MR. SHENNAN: No, sir. I have no health problems.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Do you have any hobbies or professional activities that would cause a conflict of interest?
MR. SHENNAN: Absolutely not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir. Give us a short statement.
MR. SHENNAN: I am the Director of Piedmont Community Actions in Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties and have been for 30 years. Even before that, I had an interest in disadvantaged and troubled youth and youth that needed that extra push. I have been on the Youth Advocacy Board which is a South Carolina board, and I'm on the Youth Council of the Work Force Investment Board, and our agency has a youth leadership program that's part of the Governor's youth leadership program. I graduated from Wofford College and took graduate courses from the University of Maryland and have been - oh, in my church I also was the Youth Director, but that's been a few years ago. So I've always been interested in youth, and that would be the reason that I would want to serve on the Wil Lou Gray Board. I feel like I've got something to give. Also, our former Board, the Chairperson of our Board is the Board Chairperson of the Wil Lou Gray Board, and serving with him would be an honor.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay, sir. And you are now working with Piedmont Community Action in Cherokee and Spartanburg?
MR. SHENNAN: Cherokee and Spartanburg, right. And we have the Ivywood Apartments up in Cherokee County.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Where is that located? Is that in the old [inaudible]?
MR. SHENNAN: It's right out - you can see it from the interstate. It's right behind the - it's not the Waffle House. It's --
SENATOR PEELER: Mr. Waffle?
MR. SHENNAN: Mr. Waffle. If you look right behind there, it's a two-storey apartment complex, 96 units.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Senator, any questions?
SENATOR PEELER: No, sir. Now, this is to fill --
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: This is to fill for Butch Spires.
SENATOR PEELER: And it's open now?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And he's unopposed, and our screening today would be subject to any other information that comes in, a SLED report or anything that would be unfavorable, then we would have to just take it up again.
SENATOR PEELER: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: Subject to --
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Subject to clearance of all activity because he hasn't filled out all of his papers yet, but I feel like there's no problem with him, so we'll get this behind us so we wouldn't have to call up another committee meeting just for one person. And thank you, Mr. Shennan.
MR. SHENNAN: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And what will happen on yours is you will not be -- because you're unopposed, it doesn't matter. We'll notify you at the time you may solicit. The election is not going to be until the 27th of - it's a Joint Committee meeting on the 27th, I believe, of April, so we've got plenty of time to screen, to get everything in on you. Then we'll notify you that you can come down and meet and talk.
MR. SHENNAN: Very good.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir.
MR. SHENNAN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We'll go to Winthrop University, there's one seat at-large, Seat 7, and we had some folks who couldn't be here last time. Mr. Raghu Korrapati?
MR. KORRAPATI: Good morning, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Would you please raise your right hand, Mr. Korropati? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. KORRAPATI: I do.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. Mr. Korrapati, do you hold any other elected positions or appointed positions that would maybe cause a conflict of interest?
MR. KORRAPATI: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any health problems that we need to be made aware of?
MR. KORRAPATI: No, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do any of your professional or your hobbies or anything, professional work that would cause a conflict of interest at the University?
MR. KORRAPATI: None.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Sir, go ahead with a short statement.
MR. KORRAPATI: I worked for the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education from 1992 to '98. South Carolina Commission on Higher Education recently reported that Winthrop University is a top rated and quality university. This is why I want to apply for the position of Winthrop University's Board member. I believe I have a unique combination of experience in applied business, computer technology and higher education that will make a difference of student, faculty and administration at Winthrop University. I'm a graduate of the University of South Carolina. I have a doctorate in Computer Science, master's in Business Administration, and an engineering degree in Computer Science and Technology. I'm a teacher and mentor, and my personal mission is to exceed student expectations by delivering superior instruction and facilitating positive social change in their lives. I'm mentoring students to the importance and value of higher education. I care about students and [inaudible] higher education. I believe education contributes the individual's well-being and makes a difference. I look forward to serving on the Winthrop University Board as an active board member.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you, sir. Senator, do you have any questions for Mr. Korrapati?
SENATOR PEELER: How long have you been in the U.S.?
MR. KORRAPATI: Since 1991.
SENATOR PEELER: '91. What brought you here?
MR. KORRAPATI: I'm a graduate of USC.
SENATOR PEELER: No further questions, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: No other questions. I have none. Thank you for offering.
SENATOR PEELER: Move favorable report.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator moves favorable report. I second it. So Mr. Korrapati, you can solicit at 11:00 Thursday. Thank you, sir.
MR. KORRAPATI: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We've got Susan J. Smith-Rex. Ms. Smith-Rex, would you please raise your right hand? Will the information given here today be the truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MS. SMITH-REX: I do. I will. Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you very much. Do you hold any other elected or appointed positions in the community?
MS. SMITH-REX: No, I don't.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Do you have any health problems we need to be made aware of or anything?
MS. SMITH-REX: I do not.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: None. Any professional or hobbies that would cause a conflict of interest by serving at Winthrop; would it?
MS. SMITH-REX: No conflict, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Give us a short statement.
MS. SMITH-REX: Well, I have 30 years in education. I retired in 2002 from Winthrop University. I was a professor for 23 years. And I'm an author, 12 books. And over the 23 years that I was at Winthrop, I brought in over $3 Million in grant money. Some of that money was awarded through our Legislature. One of the things that I stressed during those years was close collaboration with K through 12, and the services that I provided through my office were for not only public but private schools as well, and most of it was curriculum and in-servicing that we provided. So I feel as if it's very important for colleges and universities across our state to work closely with the K through 12 so we can prepare those students to come to college. By the year 2007, they say that out of every three students in college, two of them are going to be girls, and so I have a real interest in trying to increase the male enrollment in our universities. Although this is not my career, I just wanted to mention that through my husband who was interim President at Columbia College for several years and also the Vice President for Advancement at USC for many years, I got an opportunity to kind of step back from the professor role and look at the importance of what a board does in working in the community, in terms of fund-raising and supporting the efforts of our colleges and universities. So instead of just always looking from the inside out, I tried to over the years look from the outside in as to what a Board of Trustee's responsibility is. I believe that from the university level we not only have to prepare students who are competent in moving out into the work force, but I think it's important for the Board of Trustees to play an important role in working with business and industry so that we have a clear idea of what our state needs to be doing to attract businesses to our different locations across the state and to have students who are trained to fill those positions. Sometimes I use the slogan that we have to train the brain and stop the drain because I really believe that we lose a lot of really bright students because we don't have a lot of options for them. And so I think that our universities can play an important role in collaborating with business and industry to provide options for our bright students, all of our students really, to be able to stay in the state and support our state. I am retired. I do some consulting, and I have a small business venture, but I do have the time, the energy and the desire to serve Winthrop University. It's not only regionally and nationally well-known, but I think that that image can be strengthened through a continuing effective Board, and I'd be honored to be able to serve on the Board of Trustees at Winthrop University.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Thank you. Any question, Senator?
SENATOR PEELER: Yes, ma'am. Are you registered to vote?
MS. SMITH-REX: Excuse me?
SENATOR PEELER: Are you registered to vote?
MS. SMITH-REX: Yes, sir.
SENATOR PEELER: I see where it says you use your driver's license number, I didn't know if it --
MS. SMITH-REX: I'm not sure when I filled - did I make a mistake there?
SENATOR PEELER: No. It just says, "I use my driver's license number" on the voter registration number, and I just was curious.
MS. SMITH-REX: Oh. I am registered, yes, sir. Yes.
SENATOR PEELER: If not, get registered.
MS. SMITH-REX: I am.
SENATOR PEELER: No further questions.
MS. SMITH-REX: I vote regularly.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: You said you have written 12 books?
MS. SMITH-REX: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: What do you write on? I mean, basically, what are some of the books you've written?
MS. SMITH-REX: My field is special education. That's what I've taught all these years, but the books are geared for basically upper elementary/middle school students on different at-risk issues. I've done 20 years of researching work on the topic of school bullying, and do a lot of consulting nationally on that. Working with kids in terms of depression, attention deficit disorders, different at-risk issues. I just finished one on working with the unmotivated student learner. So they're education books.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: That's what I wanted to know.
MS. SMITH-REX: Yeah. They are.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay.
SENATOR PEELER: Favorable report, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Peeler moves favorable report. I second it. You will also be able to solicit on Thursday at 11:00 for this position; okay?
MS. SMITH-REX: All right.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: And we don't have anybody else. Nobody else? Did we leave anybody out? Well, thank you, Senator, for coming. Thank y'all for coming, and thank you for offering yourselves for these positions.

(Off the Record Discussion)
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Senator Peeler?
SENATOR PEELER: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Mr. Champy has been notified several times about his screening time, and he's not appeared at either time. We've sent letters, called him on the phone.
MS. FLOYD: He called me Thursday and asked for directions.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Okay. We've done everything possible to offer him a chance to come before the screening committee. The law says you've got to be screened; everybody has to be screened. At this time, I'd like to move that we disqualify him because he failed to appear at all times and failed to come before the Committee, and that disqualifies his application.
SENATOR PEELER: Mr. Chairman, is that the normal procedure?
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: We've never had to do one. This is the only one we've ever had to do. And I don't know any other way. We can't continue to hold this open for somebody who hasn't made any attempt to get here. And he only has to come from Orangeburg.
SENATOR PEELER: Well, I guess that's all we can do.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: Yeah. We've made every effort.
MS. FLOYD: And he said he was coming both times.
SENATOR PEELER: Did he have a reason why he missed the first time?
MS. FLOYD: Huh-uh (negative response). He didn't give me one.
SENATOR PEELER: I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I really don't know what other option we have, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: The problem we have is we have to continue to hold these elections open until he comes, and we've made every effort. We usually, if it's a case where somebody's sick or somebody's gone on vacation or something happened and they have to be out, we've been very lenient with that from time to time, and at this time, I think we've done everything we can do. And we'll notify him that we are withdrawing his name from this one. He can qualify next year if he'd like to because it is an at-large. All of these seats are at-large. Would you give him a letter to that effect?
MS. FLOYD: I will.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS: All right. Any others? What we have done, we have just declared Mr. Champy now for failure to appear before the Screening Committee on two numerous occasions with all the contact that we can make towards him through telephone conversations, through letters, and he failed to appear. So at this time, we are disqualifying him and withdrawing his name from consideration for Wil Lou Gray at-large Seat Number - well, there's no seat number, but it's an unexpired term to expire in 2008. Any questions of anybody? Thank you very much. Senator, thank you for coming.
(Concluded at 11:03 a.m.)

The Committee to Screen Candidates for Boards of Trustees of State Colleges and Universities finds the following candidates for Boards of Trustees qualified. Background reports from the State Law Enforcement Division show no felony charges against any of the candidates.

The Citadel
At-large,one seat       Claude Burns III

Dudley Saleeby, Jr.

Coastal Carolina University
Five congressional districts, one at-large

2nd District, Seat 4                     James F. Kane

3rd District, Seat 6                     William Lyles, Jr.

4th District, Seat 8                     Keith S. Smith

5th District, Seat 10                     Robert D. Brown

6th District, Seat 12                     Cathy B. Harvin

At-large, Seat 14                       Billy Alford

South Carolina State
Four congressional districts, two at-large

1st District, Seat 1 (term expires 2007)     Karl V. Green

2nd District, Seat 2 (term expires 2007)     Frederick R. Gallant

5th District, Seat 5                     Linda K. Edwards

6th District, Seat 6                     Maurice G. Washington

Daniel W. Blue, Jr.

At-large, Seat 8                       Neville O. Lorick

Thaddeus J. Bell

At-large, Seat 10                       William C. Clinkscales

Jonathan Pinson

Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School
At-large, three seats                     Russell E. Hart

Elizabeth Thrailkill

Stewart Cooner

James L. Angle
At-large, one seat (term expires 2008)       John W. Robinson

W. Wayne Sims
At-large (term expires 2007)               John B. Shennan, Jr.

Winthrop University

At-large, seat 7                       Angela H. Bain

Tim Gause

Raghu Korrapati

Susan J. Smith-Rex

Respectfully submitted,
Rep. Olin Phillips, Chrm.     Sen. Thomas Alexander
Rep. Becky Martin           Sen. Linda Short
Rep. Lanny F. Littlejohn     Sen. Jake Knotts
Rep. Jesse E. Hines         Sen. Harvey S. Peeler, Jr.

On motion of Senator ELLIOTT, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of Mr. Donald Hardee of Loris, S.C.

On motion of Senator ELLIOTT, with unanimous consent, the Senate stood adjourned out of respect to the memory of Mr. Eldred Hardee of Loris, S.C.

At 11:10 A.M., on motion of Senator CROMER, the Senate adjourned to meet next Tuesday, April 5, 2005, at 12:00 Noon.

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