I was pleased to learn that the State Senate rejected an idea to remove the State Treasurer from the South Carolina Investment Commission. I believe that there needs to be more public accountability in the Commission, not less. So, I think it was a good day for our taxpayers.
After spending most of the day yesterday out sick, today was back to the office. We had our county-wide elected officials’ luncheon which mostly revolved around personnel and budget issues that we commonly face.
Tonight I attended a dinner at the renovated Tapps Building on Main Street where the Richland County Legislative Delegation broke bread with Columbia City Council, Richland County Council, and our county-wide elected officials. There was some discussion about the state’s funding of local government and some of the issues they were tackling at the request of local governments, but it was mostly a chance to sit with a group of leaders who all represent many of the same citizens.
Somewhere during the evening I was mistaken for my Citadel ’93 classmate, Dan Johnson, our Solicitor. I was okay with that because (even though I have much better hair) he is much skinnier than I am.
We all represent different pieces of the puzzle in South Carolina government, and we need to work together to meet the needs and aspirations of Richland County. So even when there isn’t always a lot of business to report on (like tonight) it is important we spend time together so that when we must address common issues there are familiar faces we can work with.
15 February 2012
13 February 2012
The last few days
Last Thursday night, I attended Councilman Norman Jackson’s State of the County address to his constituents at Lower Richland High School. It was a well put-together event with people who truly care about our community.
Then, Friday happened. …
Whenever my wife gets a well-deserved chance to go out of town, we are all very excited for her. But, with her trips there always seems to be an accompanying catastrophe at home. I call it karma because she does so much for our family 360 days a year, that when she leaves, I get a curve-ball of some sort.
So Pamela, in her role in the leadership of the Junior League of Columbia, was sent to Dallas-Ft. Worth for a three day training weekend that started last Friday. Within twenty hours of her flight out of town, our HVAC went kaput. Luckily, the heat in the kids’ rooms upstairs was working but waking up to 59 degrees downstairs was unfriendly – to put it mildly.
Still it was a good weekend with our son’s basketball game (they tied 24-24) and he and I went to see Star Wars: Episode I in 3-D. Our daughter went to see Pinkalicious with her grandmother and her friends. And, needless to say, our kids got to spend a lot of time with the grandparents.
On Sunday, we all went to the worksite at the new “Whole Foods” store where the kids climbed to the top of huge piles of mulch (it was 15 feet high) they call Mount Jaji in honor of their grandfather before they came home to play “Winter Wipeout” in the backyard on a makeshift obstacle course.
Today, while the heat folks fixed our system, I was able to work on some pending legislation by computer and phone. Tomorrow, it is back to the statehouse for a Senate Finance Committee hearing on two pieces of legislation I’ve been working on. Tonight, I went to the Haskell Heights Neighborhood meeting at the request of their president, Ellen Anderson, to talk about county business and all of the programs we offer through the Richland County Treasurer’s Office – it was a great meeting. (This is a photo of Haskell Heights First Baptist where they meet)
And, now that the heat is on, my wife is back, and the kids are tucked in their warm home, I can say that we are ready for the week ahead.
08 February 2012
Annual Conference
The state’s auditors, treasurers and tax collectors (SCATT) are in the middle of our annual mandatory training this week here in Columbia, so I’ve been in meetings the last two days. Tomorrow we will load up on buses to head to the Statehouse to meet with our local legislators and discuss state legislation that impacts how property tax laws are administered around South Carolina.
The annual conference is a great opportunity for us to get together to discuss how our offices can better serve the people we represent, and work for, everyday. And, almost to a person, it is the most dedicated and caring group I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.
Tonight a lifetime achievement award, the Sonny Siau award, was given to Treasurer Matt Evans of Clarendon County. Matt has been working in that office since graduating from college 27 years ago and has been a rock in our organization that I, and many others, have leaned on for advice and assistance. Matt has made everyone better in knowing him, and through his work in SCATT he’s improved the lives of citizens around South Carolina without them ever knowing of his vast contributions. He and his wife, Lynn, are two of the neatest people (and best dancers) that you could ever meet.
The annual conference is a great opportunity for us to get together to discuss how our offices can better serve the people we represent, and work for, everyday. And, almost to a person, it is the most dedicated and caring group I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.
Tonight a lifetime achievement award, the Sonny Siau award, was given to Treasurer Matt Evans of Clarendon County. Matt has been working in that office since graduating from college 27 years ago and has been a rock in our organization that I, and many others, have leaned on for advice and assistance. Matt has made everyone better in knowing him, and through his work in SCATT he’s improved the lives of citizens around South Carolina without them ever knowing of his vast contributions. He and his wife, Lynn, are two of the neatest people (and best dancers) that you could ever meet.
07 February 2012
Off to the Statehouse
Every so often I have the opportunity to go to the Statehouse which, no matter what happens inside it, is a beautiful monument to the people of South Carolina. The buildings and grounds are immaculate, befitting the kind of state that we aspire to become.
Today, as the Legislative Co-Chair of SCATT, I appeared before a Senate Finance subcommittee to discuss two pieces of legislation. Really, the bills are only technical changes that will allow the law to mirror the 21st century operations of county governments.
The topics were necessary business, but not really deep or interesting enough to detail here. Still, every time I go there it reminds me that more people should go to the statehouse to enjoy the people’s building that’s available to us all – to remind ourselves of how far we’ve come, and how far we still need to go.
04 February 2012
The week gone by
Tuesday was the end of the month (which is always hectic with last minute car tax bill payers) and Wednesday was the second deadline to pay property taxes without a larger penalty, so the office stayed pretty busy.
On Wednesday night after church my wife went with her book club to hear author Ron Rash who wrote “Saints at the River,” the book being read this month as a part of the One Book, One Columbia program. She loved the book and came away impressed by the event.
On Thursday SCATT (SC Auditors, Treasurers and Tax Collectors) got our biggest piece of legislation of the year introduced in the State Senate by Senators Courson and Land. As the Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee, it was the culmination of more than a year of hard work we’d done as a group. The legislation will modernize the property taxation procedures for the counties and will clarify current law.
Also, that evening our daughter lost our first family tooth! She didn’t even cry when mommy extracted it while screaming, “Eeeeew!” It was told to me that way because mommy was brave enough to do it before I got home. She has another tooth right beside it that might fall out before I finish writing this.
That night, Pamela and I went to the NBSC Oyster Roast at the University House next to Williams-Brice stadium. Then we crossed the road to the Cantey Building on the State Fairgrounds to take part in the event for the Columbia Junior League’s Clean Sweep sale. Both events had great crowds of good people – a nice time to catch up with friends.
This morning, our son had his Upward basketball league game which was a lot of fun because it was the most scoring we’d had this year though they lost a close one, 28-24. And, this afternoon, my neighbors were probably whispering a collective ‘amen’ because the weather was so nice that the kids and I did about two hours of yard work that was long overdue. Tomorrow church and a day of rest as we wait for the Super Bowl!
On Wednesday night after church my wife went with her book club to hear author Ron Rash who wrote “Saints at the River,” the book being read this month as a part of the One Book, One Columbia program. She loved the book and came away impressed by the event.
On Thursday SCATT (SC Auditors, Treasurers and Tax Collectors) got our biggest piece of legislation of the year introduced in the State Senate by Senators Courson and Land. As the Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee, it was the culmination of more than a year of hard work we’d done as a group. The legislation will modernize the property taxation procedures for the counties and will clarify current law.
Also, that evening our daughter lost our first family tooth! She didn’t even cry when mommy extracted it while screaming, “Eeeeew!” It was told to me that way because mommy was brave enough to do it before I got home. She has another tooth right beside it that might fall out before I finish writing this.
That night, Pamela and I went to the NBSC Oyster Roast at the University House next to Williams-Brice stadium. Then we crossed the road to the Cantey Building on the State Fairgrounds to take part in the event for the Columbia Junior League’s Clean Sweep sale. Both events had great crowds of good people – a nice time to catch up with friends.
This morning, our son had his Upward basketball league game which was a lot of fun because it was the most scoring we’d had this year though they lost a close one, 28-24. And, this afternoon, my neighbors were probably whispering a collective ‘amen’ because the weather was so nice that the kids and I did about two hours of yard work that was long overdue. Tomorrow church and a day of rest as we wait for the Super Bowl!
03 February 2012
How to fight the man - Brooks (NY Times)
Here's an excerpt of David Brooks column, today:
"This seems to be a moment when many people — in religion, economics and politics — are disgusted by current institutions, but then they are vague about what sorts of institutions should replace them.
"This seems to be a moment of fervent protest movements that are ultimately vague and ineffectual. …
"If you go out there armed only with your own observations and sentiments, you will surely find yourself on very weak ground. You’ll lack the arguments, convictions and the coherent view of reality that you’ll need when challenged by a self-confident opposition."
Read the entire column here.
"This seems to be a moment when many people — in religion, economics and politics — are disgusted by current institutions, but then they are vague about what sorts of institutions should replace them.
"This seems to be a moment of fervent protest movements that are ultimately vague and ineffectual. …
"If you go out there armed only with your own observations and sentiments, you will surely find yourself on very weak ground. You’ll lack the arguments, convictions and the coherent view of reality that you’ll need when challenged by a self-confident opposition."
Read the entire column here.
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