I’ve been privileged to hold the S.C. Senate District 16 seat for 16 years. Now that my retirement is days away my thoughts turn to the question of who will fill the seat for the next term.

Both candidates seeking this office are qualified. I’ve watched fondly as Mandy Powers Norrell, my former Sunday school pupil, grow from a young girl into a successful professional.

She has run an impressive race for this office and could certainly do the job.

Rep. Mick Mulvaney, however, brings a rare package of talent to the legislature.

In only two years he has become one of its most knowledgeable members. He is dedicated, compassionate and loyal to his constituents. He stands for what is right without worrying about the consequences.

In addition, he is one of the best I’ve seen at making himself known to other legislators.

One doesn’t get anything done on his or her own in Columbia. Only by convincing a majority of the members can one advance his agenda and assist his district.

I’ve witnessed no one who is a quicker study at this than Rep. Mulvaney.

Next year Lancaster County’s delegation will average less than five years experience per member.

Reps. Billy Boan, Jim Hodges, Eldridge Emory and I are, or will be, gone.

We need someone in the Senate who, on day one, is known to other legislators and has their respect.

That is why we must elect Mick Mulvaney to District 16.

Please join me in supporting him on Nov. 4.

Greg Gregory

S.C. Senate District 16

Lancaster

Immigration Reform Signed by Governor (Wednesday, June 04)
Illegal immigration reform was the number one issue going in the 117th General Assembly session and it came to a final resolution on Wednesday, June 04, when the Governor signed the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act into law. South Carolina now has the strongest, most comprehensive illegal immigration reform law in the nation.

The law requires that all employers use the federal E-Verify or a valid South Carolina driver’s license to confirm the legal status of new employees. The law allows businesses up to five days to verify a new employee’s legal status or be subject to fines and the loss of a newly developed South Carolina License to Hire.

Senator Jim Ritchie (R-Spartanburg) commented after the Governor signed the bill: “The whole point of this bill is to create a level playing field for everyone and prevent those who choose to operate outside the law from gaining a competitive advantage over businesses that play by the rules. The rule of law can now be asserted where the federal government has failed to protect our communities.”

Budget Vetoes Overridden by General Assembly (Wednesday, June 04) Governor Mark Sanford returned 69 vetoes to the 2008-2009 General Appropriations bill, this week the General Assembly overrode 57 of them. Senator Hugh Leatherman says this year’s $7 billion budget, which goes into effect on July 1, is a “lean but responsible budget that addresses the core needs of the state.”

Despite critics’ comments, the State Budget Office constantly monitors the budgeting process to ensure that appropriations do not exceed forecasted revenues. This year’s budget also includes almost $100 million in new money from the General Fund.

Where Are They Now – Bills Status at the End of the Session
Education Accountability Act ………………….. H.4662 – Allowed to Become Law
Concealed Weapons Reciprocity………………….. H.3212 – Pending Conference Committee
Sprinkler Bill………………….. H.4470 – Pending Governor’s Approval
DNA Databank-Post Conviction DNA ………………….. S.429 – Pending Conference Committee
Critical Needs Nursing Fund ………………….. S.1022 – Veto Overridden
Safe-Cigarette Regulations………………….. H.4900 – Veto Overridden
Historical Documents Display………………….. H. 3159 – Pending Governor’s Approval
Government Restructuring………………….. H.3590 – Stalled
Government Accountability Act ………………….. H.4538 – Stalled
Civil War Sesquicentennial Advisory Board………………….. S.104 – Allowed to become law
I Believe License Plate………………….. S.1329 – (Allowed to Become Law)
Constitutional Amend. Guaranteeing the Rights of Hunting and Fishing ……………… H.3202 – Stalled

Keel Confirmed by Senate as New Director of DPS (Wednesday, June 04) The Senate, by an unanimous vote, confirmed Mark A. Keel as the new Director of the Department of Public Safety, he now is immediately eligible to be sworn-in. Mr. Keel gave the following statement concerning his confirmation:

“I appreciate the confidence Governor Sanford has placed in me by nominating me to serve as the Director of the Department of Public Safety and I am grateful to each member of the Senate for their support, confidence and trust in my abilities during the confirmation process. I look forward to being associated with the professional and hardworking employees of this agency who protect and serve the citizens of the State of South Carolina.”
Mr. Keel has been serving as the Assistant Director and Assistant Chief at the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), where he has served since August of 1979.

Senator John Drummond Ends 44 Years of Service to South Carolina Called the standard-bearer for the “Greatest Generation” Senator John Drummond (D-Greenwood) spent his final day in the General Assembly being honored for his life of service. Senator Drummond first came to the General Assembly in 1965, where he served in the House of Representatives until 1966. In 1967, he was elected to serve Senate District 10. Although, Senator Drummond has accomplished many things in his life, including surviving a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, his legacy to the Senate will be a spirit of unity and bi-partisanship. The South Carolina Senate unanimously adopted a resolution thanking Senator John W. Drummond for his service.

In addition to Senator Drummond, five other Senators are retiring.
Kay Patterson (D-Richland) served in the Senate from 1985-2008.

Greg Gregory (R-Lancaster) served in the Senate from 1993-2008.

Linda Short (D-Chester) served in the Senate from 1993-2008.

John Hawkins (R-Spartanburg) served in the Senate from 2001-2007.

Lewis Vaughn (R-Greenville) served in the Senate from 2007-2008.

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Republican Sen. Chauncey “Greg” Gregory recently announced he will not seek re-election when his term expires at the end of this year. Gregory held the seat for 16 years. He said it’s difficult to walk away with such seniority, but he felt it was time to move on.

“I don’t have much on my agenda left to accomplish,” Gregory said. “I didn’t see the point of another four years with just a couple of things left. Besides, change is good; new ideas are a good thing.”
Gregory said he has two goals left, and his name is attached to several pieces of legislation working their way through the process in Columbia.

His first goal is to hand Gov. Mark Sanford what he’s been asking for since he was elected – more power.

Gregory is sponsoring six resolutions to amend the state constitution to give the governor power to appoint the superintendent of education (which also eliminates the State Board of Education), treasurer, comptroller general, secretary of state, adjutant general and commissioner of agriculture. All of those bills are currently in committee.

“South Carolina has one of the weakest governors in the country and it has hamstrung us for over 100 years,” Gregory said. “Because of a long-held distrust of centralized power in South Carolina, we have about 500 governors; we have the governor, 170 members of the legislature, the other constitutional officers and about 300 people on boards and committees all carrying out what should be executive duties.”

His other concern is tobacco, and he is sponsoring no fewer than four bills dealing with smoking or tobacco products in the current session.

“I’ve been in favor of increasing the cigarette tax for a couple of reasons,” he said. “Number one, it makes it less affordable to youth, and we can use the extra money for health care.”

The current cigarette tax, the lowest in the nation at 7 cents per pack, covers approximately 25 percent of the costs to the state of tobacco-related illnesses, he added.

Gregory will be leaving the chairman post of the Fish, Game and Forestry Committee, as well as seats on the Corrections and Penology Committee, the Education Committee and the Judiciary Committee, where he was next in line for chairman.

Gregory likened serving in the Senate to having two full-time jobs. He also runs Builder Supply Co., his family’s business in Lancaster, which is turning 100 this year.

As far as he knows, no one has shown interest in his seat yet, though he said he’d like to see Rep. Mick Mulvaney, another Lancaster County lawmaker, run for the position.

Mulvaney did not return calls seeking comment for this story.

York County Republican Party Chairman Glenn McCall said he’s sorry to see Gregory go.

“I encouraged him to stay, but ultimately he decided against it,” McCall said. “So now we’re hoping to find a few people to run in the primary in June.”

With a long-serving senator retiring, McCall expects a tougher than usual fight for the seat from Democrats.

York County Democratic Party Chair Jim Watkins said several people have already expressed interest in the seat, though no one has announced a candidacy yet.

“My impression is it’s a good year to be a Democrat,” Watkins said. “An open seat is what everybody hopes for.”

Whoever the Republicans nominate, McCall expects the candidate to continue pushing to give the governor’s office more power.

He also expects that candidate will be in favor of extending Dave Lyle Boulevard from Rock Hill to Highway 521 in Indian Land.

Watkins said the Democratic candidate will likely be more interested in education.

Many in the party are skeptical of last year’s switch from property taxes to sales taxes for school operations.

The Democratic candidate also will likely fight any effort to shift tax money to private schools in the form of vouchers, an issue that never seems to die in Columbia.

“We cannot afford another member of the General Assembly to be a rubber stamp for Gov. Sanford,” Watkins said.

Gregory won’t run again for state Senate seat
By Jonathan Allen Fort Mill Times
(Published January 16‚ 2008)