MAY 28, 2010 — Democrats and Republicans have important choices to make June 8 in party primaries and none may be as important as the bids of candidates who want to be the next state superintendent of education. With the current superintendent, Democrat Jim Rex, running for governor, the winner of this open seat will be in charge of managing more than $2 billion in state education funding – about 40 percent of South Carolina’s general fund budget.

In the Democratic primary, we endorse Frank Holleman, a Greenville attorney who has served as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education under former Gov. Dick Riley. Holleman has a proven record in fighting to improve students’ education experiences and prepare them for the 21^st century.

He also opposes the notion outlined in a recent state court case that says the state only has the responsibility to provide a “minimally adequate” education.   That regressive notion, he says, “is not adequate in any sense for our students today. We must aim for quality and excellence.” Holleman also is a fierce opponent of using private school tax credits to drain public money away from public education. “Vouchers and tax credits are fiscally irresponsible and would create new state entitlements and special tax exemptions, when budgets are being cut and when we are working to eliminate special tax provisions. We should not take money from the classroom for vouchers.”

Another voucher opponent is Republican Brent Nelsen, a Furman University professor who we endorse in the GOP primary for state superintendent. Like Holleman, he seems to cringe about the notion of “minimally adequate schools” because “providing a quality workforce for globally competitive industries requires a world-class education system,” he says. “Nothing short of world-class education in South Carolina will do.” Nelsen also opposes vouchers, but would consider a tax credit for businesses to give to a non-profit for scholarships.

In the race for state attorney general, Columbia lawyer Leighton Lord stands out for his vital management experience. The lead lawyer for bringing Boeing’s billion-dollar investment into the state, he has run a major law firm and knows how to oversee the needs of a multimillion dollar operation like the attorney general’s office.

Lord’s opponents tout their experience in the courtroom, but it’s rare for the state’s chief prosecutor to get before a judge or jury often.  The attorney general’s role is, rather, to pull together the disparate roles of police, prosecutors and other legal entities as a team to fight crime and improve safety. Lord has the pragmatic credentials to get things done and make our state safer without simply locking up more prisoners and throwing away the keys.

The state’s next state treasurer should be Republican Converse Chellis, the incumbent who will face no Democratic opposition in the fall. Elected by the legislature in 2007 to fill the role vacated after Republican Thomas Ravenel’s conviction on drug charges, Chellis has served as an integral member of the state Budget and Control board to block some overzealous proposals.

He’s onto something in reshaping some government functions into a Department of Administration without zapping the Board:   “The active process of managing the State’s finances, and particularly the Board’s oversight and recognition of revenue collections, along with its duty to take immediate action whenever those revenues do not materialize, is a cornerstone to the State’s high credit ratings,” he told Statehouse Report. “Accordingly, completely abolishing the Board could have negative consequences on the ratings.”

Neither of the GOP candidates for comptroller general believes in keeping the Budget and Control Board. That’s a short-sighted view when recalling the tough fiscal realities of the past few years. Without the budget board to chill the slashing fervor of Gov. Mark Sanford to demolish state government, hardworking South Carolinians might not find the help they need in dozens of areas. In the GOP primary for comptroller general, we can offer no endorsement.

To review surveys filled out by each of the candidates in statewide contested primaries, check out the candidate list and links in the right column.

Disclosure: Brack made a $250 campaign donation early this year to Holleman when it appeared he would not have a primary opponent. In hindsight, it would have been better to wait.

Andy Brack is publisher of Statehouse Report and can be reached at:  brack@statehousereport.com.