POLITICOS EYE THE RISE OF LOWCOUNTRY STAR …
For months this website embarked on a virtual jihad against Catherine Templeton, then-director of the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (SCLLR). Seriously … it was brutal. After that we opposed Templeton’s ascension to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), the largest agency in state government.
Well guess what … what didn’t kill Templeton only made her stronger.
Also, since arriving at SCDHEC Templeton has won us over – impressing us with her commitment to cut, not expand, this bureaucracy.
Oh, and her “guns.”
We’re apparently not the only ones impressed by Templeton.
“Templeton is a fast rising star in South Carolina politics and has a proven track record fueling that rise,” said one GOP source who is hosting a meet-and-greet gathering featuring the SCDHEC leader in Columbia, S.C. next week.
Multiple movers, shakers, donors and fellow elected officials are said to be attending the event.
“Templeton literally overhauled (SCHEC) from top to bottom, saving us taxpayers millions from what was once a bloated state agency,” the source said. “She understands well the need to modernize antiquated government systems and infrastructure, bring it out of the stone age and into the 21st century and pursues that goal relentlessly, with the tenacity that every taxpayer wishes each elected (or) appointed official displayed.”
High praise …
Templeton is a bit of an enigma in Palmetto politics in that no one is exactly sure what sort of political future she’s angling for … if she’s even angling at all.
We hear talk of her possibly running for Congress (or for governor in 2018), but obviously a statewide campaign would be a long way off … and we’re told that 2018 gubernatorial field will be exceedingly crowded.
Whatever job she aspires to, Templeton has some hurdles to overcome. First there’s her association with S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – who will likely win reelection despite less-than-impressive approval ratings. We don’t see Haley improving those ratings in a second term – especially with the economy continuing to struggle – and Templeton’s opponents will do everything within their power to make the governor’s many failings stick to her, too.
Then there’s a 2013 health crisis that – while not Templeton’s fault – created a steady barrage of negative headlines for her agency.
Can she overcome those obstacles?
We think so …
Templeton has shrewd political instincts, a brilliant mind for policy and a deep network of well-connected, well-financed supporters. She’s also (obviously) easy on the eyes … and is adept at forging and maintaining mutually beneficial personal relationships.
Oh, and she’s not ideologically entrenched on either side of the political spectrum – meaning she’s likely to be a hit with the state’s growing core of independent voters.
Anyway, we’ll continue to keep an eye on Templeton in the months to come … as should you.
44 comments
Any friend of Nikki’s is a ….
I’ve just passed up a chance to make a snarky remark.
Oh, go ahead and say it!
I agree – say it – snarky comments are why we come here!
here goes. lost lots of weight in the pic, but probably still has hefty thighs & a wide ass, great political future in s.c.
…hefty thighs & a wide ass…
You say that like it’s a bad thing.
I don’t want to be critical of fits for an article in which I agree. Will agreed with Haley’s call for Harrell’s suspension, but used the whole article to criticize her. Hypocrisy is the argument used when you agree with someone you don’t like.
I remember a teacher who whenever I had a good grade, gave me backhanded praise. I’ve been harsh on Will when I disagree, but l’m going ease up when I agree.
He’s just joshing, Jesus is watching him.
Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and again!
Even a broken clock is right 2 times a day!
I’d take her to Pound town.
I would throw a hotdog down that hallway.
How many actual hours was she physically in her Columbia office – for example, during the months of June – July – August? Commuting and pool hours don’t count.
And why did article leave out her fondness for the bottle?
Same blog was the one who used to beat up on her about the drinking.
Thanks for mentioning that — drinking hours are probably counted as “medical leave”.
Yeah, how and why did FITS get bought off?
She must be doing something good for the Kochs.
If she becomes Governor, the capitol will have to move back to Charleston. However, that is not all bad.
Haley overcame her association with that freak, your old boss, Mark whoever.
As for her guns I’d rather you show us a quick cleavage pic if the babies didn’t ruin them. She has a purty mouth.
500+ expired permits, TB, continuing the assult on env importing out of state waste (Lee County landfill anyone???), PCB’s, trying to redirect rural water protection to city infrastructure, Pelion septage disposal site (nitrates in ground water) – wow – we have short memories……. Templeton has been a disaster for the people of South Carolina. Too bad most people have the attention span and memory of a gnat.
You are correct. Templeton is as lazy as that left eye of hers.
The eye is that way as the pic was taken before she’d sobered up good.
Would love to lick that winking pink brownie cake…
“Templeton is as lazy as that left eye of hers.”
I thought the eye was that way from doing the Sarah Palin wink – you betcha!
What about that huge landfill in Richland county on the backside of Fort Jackson. It’s literally a mountain you can see from I-20 now.
What about it? Do you throw away no trash? Do you never take a dump? (Yep, that’s where it actually goes.)
Hearing these many complaints in the years before Templeton would have been very useful. Where were they then? The few I remember would trigger the appearance of about three posters (mainly on The State) who would protest that DHEC then was near perfect–beloved of God–and could do no wrong. Where are they now I wonder? Probably no longer working at DHEC.
Ah, the uninformed – i love people like you.
“Do you never take a dump? (Yep, that’s where it actually goes.)”
Nope. Not even close.
When you take, as you so colorfully quipped, “a dump” it may go to a landfill, but more likely, it goes to a farm field where your food is grown.
All under the disguise as “recycling”.
Problem is, sometimes, u’re “dump” is co-mingled with things such as industrial waste. In the case of SC, it was co-mingled with PCB’s. (google and look up what PCB’s do to humans and the natural environment).
Your “dump” becomes sludge, which the waste industry has also “disguised” and rebranded it “biosolids”.
It took SCDHEC 3 months to issue fish advisories after the suspected release of PCB’s into the environment. Hows that for “promoting human health”….the only thing DHEC seems to promote is their paycheck and the waste industry “buddies”.
Here’s some light reading material:
http://www.thestate.com/welcome_page/?shf=/2014/03/13/3325073_pcbs-in-sludge-draw-scrutiny-by.html
And here’s DHEC’s page promoting the practice:
http://www.scdhec.gov/Environment/WaterQuality/SanitarySewers/SludgeProgram/
Google is your friend. Use it. Become an informed citizen.
Oh, and bon-appetit.
Ahh, the uninformed.
That landfill (or at least a landfill) is where Columbia’s sludge and a lot of other cities’ sludge has been going. Or so I’m told by those better informed than you. (Perhaps a low bar to clear.)
True, I did make the unfounded assumption that he lived in Columbia or such a city.
Your well-based objections to sludge use might carry more weight if you didn’t mix them into a fanciful universal evil. Lots of sludge goes relatively harmlessly to places besides the fields near your house.
Mount Trashmore is way too big. You can see and smell it for miles around. Feel bad for Spurrier living in Woodcreek farms, sometimes the smell blows that far.
It was better when she had a little meat on her bones!
Running all those UNION members out of HER state really whore her down!
YOU BETCHA!
Trending: Palin family engaged in drunken brawl after crashing party.
I can sink Catherine Templeton ……..with wagers on a Ray Rice domino video…!!
AS far as DHEC…………..I got a site off of Chick Springs Road in Greer South Carolina that she can start diggin her GRAVE….!!
All that REALLY needs to happen is for RICE-Motley to call her as a witness in a BURN PIT fiasco court case…!!!
She will be used as a sniper to smolder Tim Scott (Bees Ferry) ….Jim Clyburn ( Horry Rail) and Lindsey Graham (Capodichino Cammora)….!!!
This woman’s guns………..will be used to “frost” Waste Management….
Used to walk from my aunts house on St. Marks Road to swim there.
Oh please! What is with this sudden love fest with this crazy moron? God help us if SC has a tragedy.
In South Carolina we prefer the term “Eccentric” but yeah she’s bat shit crazy.
$$$$$
I, for one, am surprised that she does not take more public credit for having backbone in several important situations where the previous regime–and her own present middle management–would have sunk to flaccid puddles in the face of political or economic power, as was their wont for long before.
But how do you fight abject ignorance in the howling critical public? It was she who stopped the humanure heap posed as a farm in Pelion, not allowed it. She inherited it, she listened to scientific frontline staff as opposed to the mediocre middle managers, and she stopped it.
And speaking of sludge piles. If you had the slightest idea of what a dysfunctional agency she inherited in major areas (500+ expired permits with many sites failing and contaminated but still operating) you would see that it will take time or a miracle or a special-ops team to drive some professionalism into all the dank corners of that bureaucratic rabbit warren. Why was no one doing it before?
Fault her if you wish and will, but at least have the honesty to target what she has in fact done or not done, and put it in some context of what enormity needed and needs attention.
TBG: BUZZ BUILDING
*Looks around…*
It’s Friday night…give TBG a break…
i’d hit it!
A figment of Haley’s imagination, this person is a cruel, thoughtless individual whose whole purpose has been to manufacture the false image you repeat in this post. It is readily apparent, and provable, that current agency heads are charged by the governor to manipulate information creating positive spin. In short, they lie for political reasons, and Templeton is the worst.
“manipulate information creating positive spin”
A DHEC tradition, though in the past more by middle management than the top.
“Form over substance” or “Appearances appearances appearances.”
Again FITS and its respondents here have taken to the war path against an over-reaching g’ment bureaucracy and the horses they ride on.
Please keep up this good work and never give up, never, never, ever.
BTW: When the facts in evidence are clear, “malicious intent” is always grounds for dismissal of an errant government employee (whether it be for personal self-enriching or advancing cronies or destruction of taxed private property and can be decided by a judge and jury or by the blogging mob) … and the restitution to and for the public at large can be sought in the South Carolina statehouse(s) or by Grand Jury … and could lead to tax refunds and tax cuts as well as defunding of bloated high offices and recovery of pensions spent … from a willing statehouse candidate (!!) … jus’ sayin’.
(I am not a resident of South Carolina, yet, but so far FITS is encouraging me to come on over …)
Templeton’s check to Sic Willie must have cleared….
Templeton and the Fab 5, the name the staff gave her circle of leadership scum, have hid money and manipulated the books. Templeton and the Fab 5 have directed all sorts of expenses to be hid from the legislature. Especially those related to the so called consolidation. She doubled and tripled salaries of the Fab 5 and a few other unqualified idiots. The legislature would have to hire a Wall Street accounting firm to unravel the mess. Templeton will be long gone and into the next rung of her ladder climbing before or I’d it is ever discovered.
Who are the five?