SC

Catherine Templeton For Congress?

PROBABLY NOT … BUT A “MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT” IS COMING AT HER AGENCY Is Catherine Templeton about to resign her post at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to run for the U.S. Congress? That’s the hottest rumor in Palmetto political circles this week … one relentlessly stoked…

templeton

PROBABLY NOT … BUT A “MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT” IS COMING AT HER AGENCY

Is Catherine Templeton about to resign her post at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to run for the U.S. Congress?

That’s the hottest rumor in Palmetto political circles this week … one relentlessly stoked by reports of a “major announcement” coming from SCDHEC this week.

Templeton – a former labor attorney based in Charleston, S.C. – was one  of five finalists for the U.S. Senate seat that Gov. Nikki Haley wound up giving to U.S. Rep. Tim Scott (in exchange for God only knows what). Now she’s being rumored as a contender for the first congressional district seat that Scott vacated earlier this week.

Sources close to Haley’s office tell FITS that Templeton was included on the governor’s short list in an effort to bolster her visibility in advance of an impending congressional announcement.  Meanwhile we were recently forwarded a campaign sign emblazoned with the “Templeton for Congress” logo.

So is she getting in the race?

While signs appear to be pointing to “yes,” our sources at SCDHEC say this week’s big announcement has nothing to do with politics.  Instead, they say Templeton is announcing another round of firings at the 3,200-employee agency.  They also say Templeton – who accepted the job at the agency last March – isn’t leaving anytime soon.

“This is another (reduction in force),” one of our sources said.

Hmmmmm … so which sources are correct?  Guess we’ll find out soon enough …

We’ve developed a grudging respect for Templeton in recent months – even though she’s one of several state agency heads who has banned our website at her agency. While she hasn’t been as aggressive as we’d prefer in reducing SCDHEC’s bureaucracy (or pushing for long-overdue structural reforms), to her credit she hasn’t been growing her agency either.  She also seems to be genuinely focused – if not obsessed – when it comes to efficiently discharging SCDHEC’s duties.

UPDATE: Templeton is NOT running for Congress, sources close to the SCDHEC director have confirmed. Her announcement was a “restructuring” of her agency, details of which can be found here.

***

Related posts

SC

North Charleston Councilman Accuses Cop Of Falsifying Police Report

Will Folks
SC

‘Carolina Crossroads’ Update: SCDOT Set To Unveil New Plan To The Public

Will Folks
SC

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Racial Discrimination in Horry County School

Callie Lyons

5 comments

CNSYD January 4, 2013 at 10:41 am

How can you operate as a member of Congress from your house in SC?

Reply
south mauldin January 4, 2013 at 10:53 am

You beat me to it.

Reply
Lance Riprock January 4, 2013 at 12:00 pm

You could do a better job than our present reps from a one-seater outhouse in Tookiedoo.

Reply
junior justice January 4, 2013 at 12:11 pm

Who is the grinning skull in this photo? Fits, please crop him OUT – this is a good one of her.

Reply
Jeffy01 January 4, 2013 at 1:37 pm

Bet you she doesn’t run

Reply

Leave a Comment