The Sun News: Vote stalls on education post

Posted on November 29, 2007 
Filed Under News

The school choice issue burst into the open Wednesday as Horry County’s legislative delegation delayed an appointment to the state Board of Education in a vote that left the main candidate and some lawmakers confused.

Greg Killian of Myrtle Beach, who served on the state board from 1996-2004 and was its chairman part of that time, was the favored candidate of some lawmakers and was expected to be easily reappointed.

Killian was the only candidate until a few days ago, when Patricia Milley and Robert Zuercher filed for the appointment, but those two did not show up for Wednesday’s contentious legislative delegation meeting.
On a 7-5 vote, the appointment was put off to give notice of the vacancy so more people can apply if they want. The vote included four proxies from the Georgetown County members of the delegation, who did not attend but gave their votes to Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach.

The vacancy is for the 15th Judicial Circuit, which includes Horry and Georgetown counties.

The delegation members argued for nearly an hour over whether they needed to advertise the post further because it had been the subject of a story in The Sun News and people who were truly interested in the unpaid position should know about it.

Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, said Killian served well during his previous eight years and “carried our water for us” in the battle to get schools to open later. He moved to appoint Killian, but Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Myrtle Beach, moved for a delay.

There should be more time for applicants, and they should attend so lawmakers can interview them and get their views on public education, “do they support it, do they want to reform it,” Rankin said.

“The law does not require us to notify the public with this position,” said Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach. Killian is “a valuable resource” and should be elected to the slot, he said.

Clemmons said the term, currently held by Joe Isaac of Pawleys Island, expires at the end of the year and someone needs to be appointed so the area will be represented.

“I don’t want Horry County without representation on the state school board,” said Rep. Nelson Hardwick, R-Surfside Beach.

Elliott, Rankin and Rep. Billy Witherspoon, R-Conway, voted for the delay. When the four Georgetown County proxies were added to the mix, that made seven votes for postponing action.

Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, said the usual practice is for one county’s delegation to agree to the other’s wishes, depending on whose turn it is. Isaac was appointed for Georgetown County’s turn, and now it is Horry’s turn.

“Are we changing that rule, and if we are, it could come back to bite them in Georgetown County,” Edge said.

Viers and Edge blamed state Superintendent Jim Rex, saying he called some members of the delegation asking them not to support Killian.

“This is about conservative ideology versus liberal ideology,” Viers said.

“This was orchestrated by someone, and it took someone high and mighty to pull the pieces together,” Edge said.

Rex, through a spokesman, denied that he lobbied on the appointment.

“The appointment of board members is a local legislative delegation matter,” said Pete Pillow, Rex’s spokesman. “Doctor Rex would prefer board appointees who believe, as he does, in the need to reform, improve and support public education in South Carolina.”

Elliott said it is well-known that Killian supports vouchers for public money to be used in private schools.

“I don’t know how this has become a school choice issue,” Edge said.

“I’m for competition,” Killian said. “I believe in choice, and so does Jim Rex.”

Killian was a social worker counseling children for the state Department of Mental Health, then retired and is now a social worker at Grand Strand Regional Hospital.

He uses the analogy of competition among several local hospitals improving health care for all residents.

“We could never accept one state-funded hospital that everyone has to go to,” Killian said.

Viers said the notice of the opening is to be sent out today and he will call another delegation meeting to vote before the end of December.

Contact ZANE WILSON at 357-9188 or zwilson@thesunnews.com.

Vote stalls on education post
Appointment delayed over school choice issue
By Zane Wilson - The Sun News - Nov. 29, 2007