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S.C. Statehouse
Report
Sunday, July 8, 2007
VIEW: http://www.statehousereport.com/columns/07.0708.gov.htm
Big crop of candidates for governor in 2010
By
Andy Brack,
Publisher
JULY 8, 2007 - - After a frustrating legislative session
with more fireworks between lawmakers and the governor, politicos
across the state are starting to look at the next gubernatorial
election.
By all accounts, the election of 2010 will be a barnburner.
That's because it will be wide open: There won't be an incumbent
and both major political parties have a good stable of candidates.
Most of the likely candidates are current legislators, but
because Gov. Mark Sanford has bashed lawmakers over the last
five sessions, consultants say polls show the public might
not be as keen on state lawmakers as in the past. That might
leave openings for business candidates or mayors.
Here's a rundown of possible gubernatorial candidates gleaned
from interviews with several political insiders across the
state.
First, the Republicans:
- Attorney General Henry McMaster. While McMaster
could probably keep his current job as long as he wants
to, he's one of the most popular statewide Republican officeholders
in South Carolina. He's run statewide races and has a strong
conservative base in his party. He also has made a name
for himself as the state's top law enforcement officer with
very public campaigns to thwart domestic violence and gang
activity.
- House Speaker Bobby Harrell. Many don't understand
why Harrell would want to give up a powerful position as
leader of the House, but word on the street is he is very
interested in being governor. He's ramped up a public relations
effort that's more vigorous than past speakers in what appears
to be an attempt to boost his profile.
- Congressman Gresham Barrett. The third-term congressman
from Oconee County has been making the rounds in the Statehouse
to chat up lawmakers. Sources say the former S.C. House
member is seriously looking at the gubernatorial bid. If
he runs, he may be enough of an "outsider" to
the way things work in Columbia to find appeal with voters.
- Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer. Yes, he said he wouldn't
run for governor, but that's never stopped a politician
- - and that's what Bauer consummately is. He continues
to confound observers by winning elections and shouldn't
be counted out - - lead foot and all.
- Sen. Jim Ritchie. The Spartanburg Republican has
statewide ambitions and would be a good, solid choice among
the business community. But because he's somewhat unknown
statewide, he might just seek the Attorney General post
if McMaster runs.
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And the Democrats:
- Inez Tenenbaum. The former state superintendent
of education, who was the top vote-getter for all statewide
posts when she was superintendent, reportedly is looking
at running for governor. While she lost a high-profile Senate
race, she is a tough campaigner and has the ability to raise
millions of dollars.
- Robert Barber. The former S.C. House member who
lost a close race to Bauer proved he could raise money and
run a statewide race. His experiences in 2006 might just
be what the doctor ordered to groom him for higher office
- if he doesn't run for U.S. Senate as is rumored.
- Joe Erwin. The former head of the state Democratic
Party is rumored to be looking at the state's top political
job. His somewhat outsider status and resume as a successful
businessman could be a bonus if people get more fed up with
politics in Columbia.
- Sen. Joel Lourie. The Columbia Democrat has made
a name for himself by pushing measures to make nursing homes
safer, make school bus trips safer, improve education and
increase taxes on cigarettes.
- Sen. Vincent Sheheen. Not well-known across the
state, Sheheen is gaining a reputation of being someone
who can get things done across party lines. Example: the
Camden Democrat recently pushed through a bill to make presidential
primaries paid by the state, not political parties.
- Rep. James Smith. The former House Democratic leader
from Columbia currently is serving with the S.C. National
Guard in Afghanistan, just one highlight of a packed resume
that makes him an attractive candidate for many.
Bottom line: Both parties have good candidates. Look for
these names in the news over the next two years to figure
out who the frontrunners will be.
You can reach Andy Brack, publisher of
SC Statehouse Report, at brack@statehousereport.com.
Recent commentary
Coker was pulp
mill pioneer
 A
practical aptitude for mechanical things led in 1884 to James
Lide Coker Jr. (1863-1931) attending Stevens Institute
of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he graduated with
an engineering degree. In his senior thesis, he studied the
process of making paper from wood pulp and conceived the idea
of substituting the cheap and readily available southern pine
for the hardwoods then in general use.
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WEEKLY
EXCERPTS
S.C.
Statehouse Report has partnered with USC
Press to provide readers with a weekly historical
excerpt about the state. Each excerpt, which is used
with permission and not for republication, is taken
from The
South Carolina Encyclopedia, a 1,077-page book
published in 2006 with entries by almost 600 contributors
and edited by noted historian Walter Edgar. We hope
you enjoy this new feature.
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When Coker returned to Hartsville after college, he convinced
his father (merchant and philanthropist James Lide Coker Sr.)
to help finance experiments on his scheme, no one having previously
attempted the pulp process with pine timber. Working with
the American Sulphite Pulp Company, which held a patent of
the sulphite process, Coker built an experimental pulp mill
in Hartsville in 1890 and, with his father, formed the Carolina
Fiber Company. After much difficulty, Coker proved the process
effective and began manufacturing the first wood pulp made
from pine. His mill and process had a significant influence
on the future development of the southern pulp mill industry.
Carolina Fiber had a symbiotic relationship with the Southern
Novelty Company, which was formed in 1899 by the Coker family
to produce and supply paper cones and tubes to the textile
industry. The two family companies combined after Coker's
death to form what today is known as Sonoco.
-- Entry by Ned L. Irwin, The
South Carolina Encyclopedia
To read more about this or 2,000 entries
about South Carolina, check out The
South Carolina Encyclopedia by USC
Press. Information used by permission.
Liberating
Libby
Another great cartoon by Bill McLemore:
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