The Power List Is Coming

By fitsnews • on July 24, 2009

For those of you who are new to FITS, every August we roll out a list called the “Palmetto Power 100.”

It’s a comprehensive ranking of the 100 most influential politicos in South Carolina, including elected officials, agency heads, lobbyists, political consultants, business leaders … you name it.

Always one of our most widely-read features, the Power 100 isn’t just a ranking – it’s a report. It features detailed entries for each name on the list, provides their fiscal conservative scores and assigns a “change agent” designation for those who are honestly working to bring South Carolina out of the dark ages.

You can view last year’s list by clicking here and here.

As we do each year, we’re soliciting your input for this year’s installment of the Palmetto Power 100. Obviously, there will be plenty of shakeup from last year’s list, but we want to hear from you before the shaking begins …

Specifically, who would you put on a list of the most powerful Palmetto politicos?

Like last year, we’ll be releasing this year’s installment in three sections – a list of honorable mentions followed by the list itself in two sections.

It really is like Christmas in the middle of summer, people.

Stay tuned …

Comments

By Upstate Conservative on July 24th, 2009 at 10:01 am

Questionable travel expense to Asia aside, Nikki Haley. She has emerged as the new voice for government reform in the wake of Sanford’s “I’m just sorry I got caught” debacle.

By Wilbur on July 24th, 2009 at 10:23 am

My favorite is your hot list…

By Freddie Guy on July 24th, 2009 at 10:59 am

Don’t forget Sherry Few! She is the ONLY candidate to lose 9 elections in 3 election cycles. Rumored to be considering a run for statewide office.

Fred

By PandaChris on July 24th, 2009 at 12:29 pm

For myself, unfortunately ALL reformers associated with Sanford need to be moved way down the list this year and stay way down until he is out of office.

This includes Tom Davis and Nikki Haley….especially Nikki Haley.

All of us who support reform candidates recognize the damage that Sanford has done to our cause….NOT because of his adultery but rather the exposed waste and misuse of tax dollars.

Would we even have known Nikki travels in style when SC citizens are paying for it UNLESS this Sanford scandal had broken?

My hope is that a reform minded candidate with NO ties to Sanford will appear and run for governor next year.

By Seth on July 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

I think Jim DeMint should be near the top of the list, esp. with his “Waterloo” forsight.
Also, Jeff Duncan’s star is beginning to rise as he seeks CD-3, I’d think he should be in the top 50.

By Arthur Friend on July 24th, 2009 at 1:15 pm

Ben Fox (incoming Communications Director) and Jeff Schilz (Policy Director) in the Governor’s Office are two gentlemen with immense influence within the (granted diminished) Governor’s Office. Regardless of their impact over the next 17 months, they are two stars in the making to watch over the next few years.

By PandaChris on July 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

I concur about DeMint..he easily should be the top spot!