S.C. Lt. Governor Glenn McConnell is on a sinking ship … and his lifeboat may no longer be available.
While the once-mighty legislative leader continues to say he’s running for reelection in 2014, he has made it abundantly clear that he covets the presidency of the College of Charleston – a government-run institution of higher learning that would pay him mid-six figures (in the event he gets the job).
In fact multiple sources have confirmed to FITS that there is a furious legislative push underway to sway several members of the college’s governing board to McConnell’s side – an effort which is being met with considerable resistance.
That’s not surprising given McConnell’s colorful, um, history.
Up until early last year the fiscally liberal McConnell was the president of the South Carolina Senate – a master manipulator who used his influence and parliamentary skills to steer tens of millions of dollars to his pet projects, including the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley.
However when S.C. Lt. Gov. Ken Ard resigned his office amid a cash-for-contributions campaign finance scandal, McConnell was forced to ascend to this part-time, largely ceremonial office. That’s when S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – a longtime antagonist of McConnell’s – decided to strike.
Haley successfully recruited one of her campaign donors to run against McConnell – a Lowcountry real estate developer named Pat McKinney. In fact McKinney raised $276,000 during the most recent fundraising quarter (and loaned himself another $245,000).
McConnell reported raising close to $256,000 – but virtually all of that was money transferred from his State Senate account (meaning he didn’t actually raise any new funds).
Hmmmmm …
McConnell may yet be able to pressure enough people into giving him the College of Charleston job, but his bid is facing two major hurdles. First is timing: McConnell wants the school to extend the president’s offer to him by the end of the year, which is inconsistent with the school’s search process. More importantly McConnell wants the job to be given to him – he doesn’t want to have to compete for it.
That’s also at odds with what the school’s leaders want.
Sources also tell FITS McConnell is facing serious opposition from several of the school’s top donors – which is complicating his efforts with board members (even though the strong-arm tactics of his supporters have reportedly swayed some votes).
This website has consistently opposed cozy employment arrangements for former politicians at government-funded agencies.
“Lawmakers should be banned from taking government appointments during – and after – their terms of service,” we wrote recently. “Obviously they are free to run for higher office if they choose, but taxpayers simply cannot afford to continue subsidizing six-figure jobs for members and former members of the S.C. General Assembly.”
Indeed …
More to the point, South Carolina taxpayers cannot continue to subsidize such a bloated and inefficient higher ed system.
25 comments
I’ll bite, is his problem the big ugly purple dress he’s wearing?
That, and that he is wearing no pants under it
And worst of all, Barney wants his clothes back…
Is it Barney….or Andre Bauer that wants the purple dress back? They could fit over it…..Oooo…..Ooooo…..Cat Fight!
Glenn McConnell would make a great governor after the idiots we’ve had since 2003…and, I don’t even like him. And, am a Democrat.
From a purely pragmatic point of view, there is no one who understands more about SC, SC government and how to get things done in SC.
After the past 10 years of self serving, self promoting, dimwitted ideologues, it would be a weight off all our shoulders, a breath of fresh air to have a competent, non-Frank Luntz talking point spouting governor.
Is Jenny Sanford still interested in the presidency of College of Charleston?
Jenny Sanford? Mitch McConnell? College Presidential candidates? You’ve got to be kidding. We need professionals running our schools of higher education. Folks who have experience at running schools. Period. These jobs are tough. Our educational system is suffering enough. We have enough rookies running some of our cabinet positions. Let’s hope the Trustees of the C of C take their job seriously. They hold the school “in trust” for the state. Not for its politicians.
Fred Carter, formerly of the Budget and Control Board, seems to have done a great job at Francis Marion.
However, his serious consideration of the Mt. Pleasant invitation to have a satellite 100+ miles from Florence is…weird.
Fred Carter is just another Florence County Hugh Leatherman Crook. He is far enough away from Columbia no one notices but believe me Francis Marion is just another profitable family business for Hugh Leatherman.
At McConnell’s special request, his Lt. Governor budget for FY 2013-14 includes four SLED agents for 24-7-365 “personal security,” costing us taxpayers over $400,000 annually.
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See http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/appropriations2013/tas94.htm
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The $400,000 expenditure was quietly pushed through the Senate Finance Committee by his friend, Sen. Hugh Leatherman, and it was passed with no debate whatsoever.
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This is because McConnell, in addition to being a reckless spendthrift is also a paranoiac.
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Has McConnell told the College of Charleston board yet that he expects them to continue funding his “personal security”?
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And will his Lt. Governor opponent also insist on a $400,000 annual “personal security” detail?
Good lord…if I had to answer to you freaks on this site, I’d be paranoid too.
Someone really needs to look at his security detail. Part time position, just what does his security detail do when McConnell is on the lake? Whose towing his ski boat?
There is no line item for “personal security,” in the document you linked to. Which line item are you referring to?
….and the dollar amount of that line item?
What did the four SLED agents look like?
Glenn’s already got a bumper sticker on his old blue Mercedez that says McConnell for Lieut. Governor — blue letters on yellow background. He should leave the CofC alone and TRY to stay where he is, run for re-election. He’ll be the only fag on the ticket and might get his ass whipped. Then again, if the CofC appoints him president, he’ll be the first CofC fag president.
I don’t think he’s a full on fag. He’s probably just a little bisexual.
Boykin Rose will help him secure that job I’ll bet!
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201309/survive-shark-attack/step1.aspx?utm_source=insider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
Make him president of the Citadel. His costume-party antics in a general officer’s uniform and his big-bath-tub playing with an antiquated military vessel would fit right in. Give the Citadel the Hunley too.
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Let C of C have the present Citadel president. Problem solved.
Agreed. He’d be in heaven surrounded by so many young men.
When will Wil Folks start publishing something about the Democratic candidate for Gov. Lite?
http://www.sellers2014.com/
Why do politicians ( or their ex-wives ) think they are qualified to run a university?
How soon you forget! Both Harry Lightsey and Judge Sanders were politicians prior to being made president of the CofC. Both did good jobs. McConnell has the very same qualifications and would probably do a good job.
Yes. I did forget and the Lt Gov probably would do a fine job, but was referring more to the latter and the aviation authority fiasco. I stand corrected!