SCHotline Press Releases

Dear Friend,

The state legislature reconvenes tomorrow (Friday) to elect a new Treasurer to serve out the remainder of Thomas Ravenel’s term. This is a critical election since the Treasurer is the “swing vote” on the five-member Budget and Control Board. The Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and I support reforms that could result in $500 million in savings, but whether or not they are advanced hangs in the balance.

Two other members of the Budget and Control Board – Sen. Hugh Leatherman and Rep. Dan Cooper – have endorsed a fellow legislator, Rep. Converse Chellis, for Treasurer. I believe Chellis is a good man, but The State newspaper raised some concerns in its editorial today when they wrote that “there is reason to fear he supports the status quo: He is a member of the House leadership team that has blocked changes.”

I have endorsed two reform-minded candidates – Tim Scott, the chairman of Charleston County Council, and Sen. Greg Ryberg – and newspapers from all corners of the state have published editorials urging legislators to elect one of these two men. In case you missed them, these editorials can be accessed at the following links:

(The State)
(The State)
(The Greenville News)
(The Sun News)

Please take the time to read these editorials and forward them to family and friends, and let your legislator know how important the Treasurer’s role is in reforming the Budget and Control Board and dealing with the $15 billion that passes through that agency.

All of this underscores a problem with the process. The legislature has arranged for the Treasurer’s electoral process to be only ten days long, making it essentially impossible for an outsider to receive any consideration. Extremely able and talented men and women – the best our state has to offer in financial matters – will not even get a chance.

I appreciate your consideration of the merits of a ten-day election and continuing the reforms at the Budget and Control Board. And as always, I thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Mark

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