S.C. Governor

Bob Botsch

Copyright 2012

Important Governors in SC History

• William Sayle—1st, named by proprietors 1670• John Rutledge—1st during and after revolution, signed Constitution • Daniel Chamberlain—Reconstruction • Wade Hampton—1877, low country elite, promised fairness to blacks • Ben Tillman—1891-95, led populist rebellion and rewrote constitution• Strom—1947-51, beginning of a legend• Fritz Hollings—1959-63, integration and technical education• James Edwards—1971-5. 1st Republican since Chamberlain—electoral

fluke b/c Democrat nominee ruled ineligible • Dick Riley—1979-87, Education, 1st to serve 2 terms• Followed by Carroll Campbell (R: 87-95)—first Rep to win in a real

contest—executive budget/cabinet reform/Hurricane Hugo • Recent mediocre governors: David Beasley (R: 95-99), Jim Hodges

(D: 99-03), Mark Sanford (R:03-11), Nikki Haley (R:11-?)

Powers of early governors in South Carolina’s history thru

about 1900 1. Powerful early governors appointed by Proprietors and

later the king 2. Post Revolutionary War governors very weak—chosen

by legislature till after Civil War—single 2 yr term 3. 1868 Constitution made governor a separate branch,

popularly elected, with separate powers including a general veto, 4 year term

4. Constitution of 1895 gave governor line-item veto

How legislature limited govnr’s budget powers, 1915-50

• From 1919-50 budget under control of Budget Comm; had 2 legislators + governor

• 1950 BCB created that added Comptroller General and Treasurer

• BCB expanded its powers since then

• Recent efforts to gut and replace with a Dept. of Administration controlled by governor finally seem likely

Contributions of Riley and Campbell

• Richard Riley (1979-87): – 2 terms– Education Improvement Act (+1 cent sales tax)

• Carroll Campbell (1987-95): – 1st Republican to really win on his own—also 2 terms – helped turn SC into solid GOP—Southern Strategy– crisis manager—Hurricane Hugo– Significant reorganization that gave governor control over

150 state agencies as cabinet depts (only a start)– Submitted executive budget on own

Governor’s Formal Powers and Comparative Ratings

• Tenure: moderately strong b/c 2 terms, but not really strong b/c only 2 terms

• Appointment: weak b/c separate elections of other constitutional officers and limited cabinet agencies (boards and comm)

• Budget: weak to moderate b/c of BCB, but now does have executive budget

• Veto: as strong as most, but depends on how effectively it is used (really part of informal power)—Sanford and Haley very ineffective here

Governor’s Informal Powers

• Cannot overstress importance • Defined: political & personal attributes that enable a

governor to persuade others • “Others” include: public, legislators, other officials

across state• Political factors: margin of victory, re-election success,

popularity, not lame duck• Personal factors: speaking skill, face-to-face negotiating

skill, reputation for integrity, ability to compromise, respect for others

• Rating Nikki Haley?

Roles and Responsibilities—success rests on informal persuasion power

1. Leading admin state thru appts

2. Developing/promoting leg agenda (2012 Haley Tax Relief Plan—not introduced by any member)

3. Crisis Management (e.g. Hugo in 1989)

4. Molding public opinion (e.g. Haley’s “real” tax reform in 2012—3-14-12 visit to Aiken)

5. Political leader—make others feel indebted

6. Spokesperson to federal govt—get or reject help (e.g. Haley and Health Care Reform and Charleston Harbor deepening)