Musical Chairs In S.C. Governor’s Office

SANFORD’S CHIEF OF STAFF TAKING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S POSITION WITH BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, NO ONE SURE WHO WILL REPLACE HIM

FITSNews – January 2, 2007 - Less than a week before the start of a new Legislative session and eight days before his inauguration, no one seems to know who will lead S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford‘s office during its second term.

Not exactly a confidence-inspiring situation on the eve of a four year stretch that will make or break his legacy as the state’s 115th post-Colonial governor.

FITSNews has learned that Sanford’s current Chief of Staff, Henry White (above, left), will be leaving the Governor’s Office to replace Frank Fusco as Executive Director of the powerful State Budget and Control Board – perhaps as soon as this week.

White would not confirm that the move was taking place, referring comments to Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer, but numerous sources within the Budget and Control Board and the Governor’s Office have confirmed anonymously to FITSNews that the move is indeed imminent.

“Right at this second, the board has an executive director,” White told FITSNews Tuesday evening. “Beyond that, I don’t have any comment.”

The question of who would replace White as the governor’s Chief of Staff is one that has even the most well-connected State House insiders scratching their heads in bewilderment.

Sanford has relied on his wife (First Lady Jenny Sanford), one interim Chief of Staff (Francis Marion President Fred Carter) and simultaneously-serving Co-Chiefs of Staff (White and longtime Sanford confidant Tom Davis) to fill the post at various points during his first term.

And while the Governor’s Office wasn’t talking Tuesday evening about a permanent replacement for White, sources tell FITSNews that Sanford’s short list boils down to five prospective candidates.

They are:

Jenny Sanford – The First Lady managed both of Sanford’s successful gubernatorial campaigns and has been a consistent presence in the Governor’s Office since Sanford first took office in January 2003. Sanford has acknowledged on many occasions that his wife is his closest and most trusted advisor, and while the choice would certainly be unconventional, “maverick” moves have always been a part of this governor’s marketing strategy.

Tom Davis – A Beaufort attorney, former Sanford appointee to the State Ports Authority and one of the governor’s former Co-Chiefs of Staff, Davis was indispensable to Sanford’s 2006 reelection effort, raising a boatload of cash and doing the heavy policy lifting in support of the campaign’s multimillion dollar ad blitz. Davis, who has known the governor since their college days together at Furman, is also one of the few Sanford staffers with solid relationships in the General Assembly.

Chris Drummond – In many ways, Sanford’s former Communications Director occupied more traditional Chief of Staff roles than anyone during the governor’s first term in office, running point during its major crises (Hurricane evacuations, chemical spills, etc.) and essentially managing the strategic direction of the office until his departure in late 2005. Now firmly ensconced in private practice, many doubt if Drummond would be willing to return to the administration, even if the top spot were offered to him.

Jason Miller – Sanford’s 2006 Campaign Manager is certainly getting paid like a Chief of Staff, earning $106,000 a year in his role as Deputy Chief of Staff for Coalitions and Strategic Planning. A former operative for ex-Virginia Sen. George Allen, Miller has the least experience of any of the candidates when it comes to South Carolina politics – especially managing relations with the South Carolina General Assembly.

Scott English – The governor’s Senior Policy Advisor, English has one of the sharpest minds – and perhaps the most tireless work ethic – of anyone in state government. After serving five years with Sanford in the U.S. Congress, English assumed one of the most critical (and unsung) roles of Sanford’s 2002 campaign – managing the rapid response efforts that beat back the barrage of negative ads directed at Sanford. After the election, English ran the governor’s Washington D.C. office prior to moving to Columbia to assume the top policy position in the administration.

Whichever of these candidates inherits the Chief of Staff role, he or she faces the daunting task of managing gubernatorial relations with a frequently hostile Legislature. Since his reelection in November, Sanford appears to have adopted a more conciliatory approach in dealing with the House and Senate (which are both controlled by his own party) and has dramatically scaled back his lofty first term objectives.

It remains to be seen whether or not this approach will result in Legislative acquiescence on the issue of government restructuring, for example, a pared down version of which Sanford has established as the top priority of his second term.

Stay tuned to FITSNews for more information on this and other breaking S.C political news stories …