MUSICAL CHAIRS … BUT DO ANY OF THEM MATTER?
|| By FITSNEWS || S.C. governor Nikki Haley is once again making big changes in her administration – although if history is any indication, none of them will yield smaller government. Or better government.
This week Haley named her longtime chief legal advisor – Swati Patel – as her fourth chief of staff in five years. Patel replaces James Burns, an attorney at a prominent local law firm who lasted barely a year in the position. Prior to becoming Haley’s chief of staff, Burns was her appointee to the S.C. State Ethics Commission – an entity which was plagued by scandal during his tenure.
“I can’t think of anyone who is more widely respected or uniquely qualified to lead our team than Swati Patel,” Haley said in a statement. “Swati’s steady leadership as legal counsel has strengthened our staff, guided our administration, and helped us deliver results to the people of South Carolina – and, as Chief of Staff, Swati will keep that momentum going.”
Wait … momentum?
South Carolina’s labor participation rate is the nation’s eighth-lowest. Its income levels are the nation’s sixth-lowest. Despite billions of dollars in new funding its government-run schools remain abysmal, while the rest of its government structure is an increasingly expensive disaster zone.
Momentum?
Mmm-kay.
Anyway, replacing Patel as Haley’s chief legal counselor is Holly Pisarek, who was tapped last year to be a six-figure “special assistant” to Susan Alford at the scandal-scarred S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS).
How’d that move work out? Um … yeah. Not good.
Oh well. “It’s a great day in South Carolina” for the bureaucrats getting these big salaries (Haley’s administration pays well, too).
For the rest of us?
Eh …
28 comments
“I can’t think of anyone who is more widely respected or uniquely qualified to lead our team than Swati Patel,”
Well, then why was he NOT the first choice from the beginning — hmmm?
Swati is a woman. She was Chief Legal Counsel for all of Sanford’s administration and, until now, all of Haley’s. She is well respected, not overtly political, and actually is “uniquely qualified” for the position. She would have a better understanding of the entirety of state government after 13 years as Chief Legal Counsel than any Chief of Staff in history, with the possible exception of Fred Carter (Sanford’s first).
So, you are publishing here, on Fitsnews, the first official endorsement for Ms. Swati as the next Governor of SC?
As I said, she’s not overtly political. I doubt that she has any interest at all in elective politics. A good COS is indispensable, if they’re allowed to do their job. She has all the tools and experience necessary to be very good.
Is she a member of Nikki’s temple?
No clue, and who cares?
I want to know.
Is she a member of Nikki’s temple?
I still want to know…..
Please explain for us what exactly is it that supports your statement about her being “uniquely qualified”.
Sure – As Chief Legal Counsel (particularly with a 13 year tenure), she’ll have been exposed to the workings of every executive agency, bill review before, during, and after legislative action (she was also chief counsel to House Judiciary before going to work for Sanford), and will have a broader and deeper knowledge of the rest of state government than any other staffer. I can’t think of anyone else in state government that would have the breadth of knowledge. If you can, I’d like to know who it might be.
I think from what we saw of the DSS hearings, legislators know virtually nothing about state agencies and I don’t know why we should think that legislative staff would know as much or more.
Think of it as the difference between a generalist and a specialist. Staffers are usually tasked with dealing with specific areas of state government.
She was the Deputy Legal Counsel for Sanford for several years before being elevated to Chief Legal Counsel. She definitely knows her way around state government, but the question is whether or not she can manage that motley crew. She’s very smart, has a great disposition though is no push-over. Managing a larger staff is to be her latest challenge.
Her bio:
Patel has served as Chief Legal Counsel for Gov. Haley since January 11, 2011 and served as transition counsel in the Office of Gov.-elect Haley.
“Patel’s career in public service spans eighteen years – in the executive and legislative branches – and includes ten years as a legal counsel in the Governor’s Office. Patel was appointed Deputy Legal Counsel in 2003 and then Chief Legal Counsel in 2007 by Gov. Mark Sanford, and she joined Gov.-elect Haley’s team as transition counsel in November 2010.
A native of Anderson, S.C. and mother of two, Patel received a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Patel worked as Assistant Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, and Staff Counsel to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission and the House Legislative Ethics Committee. From 2006 to 2007, Patel was a staff attorney with the Legislative Council, drafting legislation for the state House of Representatives and Senate.”
Thanks for the correction. i thought she started as Chief Legal Counsel with Sanford. Can you remind me who served in that post during his first term?
Henry White.
Swati replaced Henry White and served for the duration of Sanford’s term, and then continued in the same role for Haley.
Learn to read. I stated she was the Deputy first, then General Counsel to Sanfraud. I corrected the previous comment, by stating same. He asked me who the first General Counsel, and I correctly stated same. Try again.
“Patel was appointed Deputy Legal Counsel in 2003 and then Chief Legal Counsel in 2007 by Gov. Mark Sanford…”
“From 2006 to 2007, Patel was a staff attorney with the Legislative Council, drafting legislation for the state House of Representatives and Senate.”
I’m confused. Was she working for the governor and the legislature at the same time?
I don’t remember all of those details, but I think I recall she left the Governor’s Office in 06 for the Legislative Council for that one year, then returned to the Sanfraud Admin in 07 for the Chief Counsel job.
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Lining up more turds to be steamrolled by the lifetime bureaucrats/parasites running the shit show behind the scenes.
Haley’s term will be over soon and they’ll just wait her and her staff out/screw with them until the next uninitiated demagogue gets into office.
Yeah, this lawyer knows all the secrets. Better pay her biggest bucks ever. Liars and thieves. How much have you spent covering up illegal personnel actions?!
Hearing the Feds are closing in.
Excellent
Are we any closer on deporting anchor baby Nikki? That would be best for everyone. Then the Taxpayers can stop supporting her entire family.
Hmmm… anyone remember Gen. Abe Turner at SCDEW? Nikki’s appointee (Army General with a Music Degree)…just another Political Payoff.
This woman should have never been elected. But that just goes right back to dumb voters who don’t have a clue. SC is one messed up state. And down in Charleston, its being non-stop invaded by fleeing residents of the northeast who are transforming the city and county of Charleston into a high priced liberal style economy that is unaffordable to blue collar South Carolinians. Its like greed and evilness has taken over down there.
Typical politician–surround yourself with lawyers.