NO MATTER WHO ELSE IS RUNNING …
It’s not as though there was much suspense associated with the announcement, but Lowcountry lawyer (and former S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control director) Catherine Templeton formally confirmed her intention to run for governor of South Carolina in 2018.
The news broke in Templeton’s adopted home of Charleston, S.C. – via a fundraising solicitation sent out on her behalf by local real estate investor John Rivers, Jr.
Reporters Emma Dumain and Schulyer Kropf of The Charleston Post and Courier received a copy of this invite, and got Templeton to go on the record regarding her plans.
Dumain and Kropf’s story also contained the first peek at Templeton’s governing philosophy.
“Everything South Carolina needs is within our grasp if government would simply operate properly and mostly just get out of our way,” she told the reporters.
Not a bad first marker to lay down …
Left out of the story? The fact that Templeton is planning to file her paperwork for a gubernatorial campaign no matter who else is running – including big-name candidates like S.C. lieutenant governor Henry McMaster and U.S. Senator Tim Scott.
McMaster could wind up ascending to the governor’s office in January in the event second-term GOP governor Nikki Haley receives an appointment from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump – meaning McMaster would be able to seek the governor’s office in 2018 as the incumbent. Meanwhile GOP consultants are reportedly pushing Scott to seek the post as a way to bolster his “executive experience” ahead of a possible presidential bid in 2020.
Of course Scott’s rumored running mate – U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy – appears in line to take another job.
Sources close to Templeton say neither McMaster nor Scott’s calculus effects her decision to run.
“She’s going to run her race,” a source close to the business-minded blonde told us.
While she lives in Charleston, Templeton grew up in Lexington County, S.C. – rural roots she is expected to play up as her outsider candidacy takes shape.
This website has written extensively on Templeton in the past – both bad and good (for one of our more recent stories, click here). Now that she’s officially in the race, we look forward to providing our readers with some thoughts on her “pros” and “cons” as a candidate.
Look for that article soon …
In addition to Templeton, Scott and McMaster, S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson is widely expected to announce his candidacy for this post in the coming months.
S.C. speaker pro tempore Tommy Pope has already announced his candidacy, as has former Democratic lieutenant governor Yancey McGill – who switched parties to run for governor earlier this year. Other candidates mulling bids include S.C. Senator Tom Davis, S.C. Rep. Kirkman Finlay, Columbia, S.C. businessman Bill Stern and U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan,
Two other U.S. congressman – Mick Mulvaney and former two-term S.C. governor Mark Sanford – are also mentioned as possible candidates, but sources close to both lawmakers tell us they are unlikely to run in 2018.
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