Must be nice having a taxpayer-funded backup plan …
Scott English, chief of staff to outgoing S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford, was practically measuring the drapes in the executive director’s office at the S.C. Budget and Control Board – the quasi-executive, quasi-legislative agency that administers the majority of South Carolina’s executive branch functions.
Until recently, anyway …
Unable to secure the votes needed to oust the board’s current executive director, Frank Fusco, S.C. Gov.-elect Nikki Haley was forced to give up her bid to install English in this key executive branch position.
It’s an early defeat for Haley and S.C. Club for Growth leader Chad Walldorf, both of whom had been touting English as the ideal person to implement a series of reforms that the Sanford administration laid out for the agency several years ago.
Of course it didn’t take long for English to land on his feet. In fact, sources tell FITS that the rotund Sanfordite has accepted an invitation to serve as chief of staff to incoming S.C. Superintendent of Education Mick Zais.
Hmmmm … wonder who called in that favor?
In addition to speculating about the amount of his new taxpayer-funded salary (he currently makes $98,000 working for Sanford), it will be interesting to see if English makes a dent (or even tries to make a dent) in the bureaucratic expansion that’s taken place at the State Department of Education in recent years.
That’s certainly something that fiscal conservatives will be watching closely …
Incidentally, English’s decision to accept this position with Zais represents a major coup for his close friend Kristin Maguire (a.k.a. Bridget Keeney) – the former S.C. Board of Education chairwoman who resigned in disgrace when her secret life as an erotic fiction writer was exposed.
English and Maguire – who quietly advised Haley’s gubernatorial campaign on education matters – are thick as thieves, and her influence will no doubt be felt on education policy given this new proximity to the Superintendent’s office, which has been in Democratic hands for the last 12 years.
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By Ima December 27, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Perhaps Keeney by way of Zais and English will develop an AP creative erotic writing class?
By Dakota December 27, 2010 at 7:37 pm
OFM
By Conrad December 27, 2010 at 7:43 pm
What’s this guy done in his life other than serve politicians? Ever have a real job? What’s his background?
By WorkingTommyC December 27, 2010 at 7:58 pm
D–n, Will! You sound envious! =:>)
By commonman December 27, 2010 at 8:07 pm
There goes any hope of reforming the Board. If Fusco had any respect for the Board, he would resign and take his TERI behind home and get some new blood in there. When the Chair has no opportunity to name her own Director, she will have no chance to reform the administrative functions of state government. Makes her look ineffective in the face of the biggest bureaucrat in state government. Proves where the power really is. Ridiculous and I am not a big Haley fan. Guess Leatherman and Cooper convinced that paragon of reform, Curt Loftis, to throw in with them. And I thought we had us a Renegade Republican Reformer. Guessed wrong.
By NoName December 27, 2010 at 9:11 pm
So the vote to keep FF was Richard. Hard to believe it was Loftis.
And don’t you call him out for that bullshit.
By Si Rosen December 28, 2010 at 7:58 am
measuring the drapes … thick as thieves … What is this, a cliche contest?
And “make a dent in the bureaucratic explosion”? I didn’t know you could make a dent in an explosion.
By commonman December 28, 2010 at 8:37 am
Lets wait and see who the vote is. Last time Eckstrom agreed that the Governor, as Chair, should have his Executive Director in place at the Board. I have seen nothing to indicate Richard has changed his mind. If he has then I apologize for blaming Loftis. Politics keeps making for stranger and stranger bed fellows in SC, literally and figuratively. Loftis is the only hope we have to bring some scrutiny to the Retirement System, so we can wait and see.
By fitsnews December 28, 2010 at 9:04 am
Si,
Thanks for the literary advice.
And you are correct … in Scott English’s case we probably should have used the term “measuring the width of the door frame” and discussed whether he would be “putting a dent in the SDE vending machine.”
-FITS
By commonman December 28, 2010 at 9:23 am
Should have read FITS earlier post. Loftis is the vote for maintaining the failed status quo. As I said, if Loftis is the reform politician, there is trouble right here in River City.
By Recovering Lobbyist December 28, 2010 at 9:26 am
If Loftis really did support Fusco and cross Haley, I think it is safe to say that he will pay dearly doing so. Everyone seems to be sitting back and waiting for her to fail. All of them have failed to take notice of her accomplishments in just six years in public life. Don’t underestimate Nikki Haley.
By WorkingTommyC December 29, 2010 at 7:56 am
Everyone I’ve contacted so far says this is all crap.
FWIW: I have found no one who will corroborate and the people who really should know say the story is false regarding the Haley administration picking English for B&CB or going after Curtis Loftis.
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