Labor chief chosen to head DHEC

State labor chief Catherine Templeton is the Department of Health and Environmental Control board’s choice to run the expansive agency, which would make her the first woman to head DHEC since its inception in the early 1970s.

But she needs confirmation from the state Senate and questions surfaced Wednesday about her background.

Her lack of experience as a health and environmental regulator and her record as director of South Carolina’s labor department must be addressed, Democratic state senators Joel Lourie, Brad Hutto and Phil Leventis said.

“It is very challenging for anyone to step into an agency of this magnitude, having never worked there or really dealt with the agency in any type of regulatory way,’’ Lourie said. “I anticipate the confirmation process will be fairly extensive and lengthy.’’

Templeton, 41, beat about 250 other candidates for the DHEC post, considered one of the most complicated in state government because the agency is so large and must oversee thousands of health and environmental regulations. The department, with about 4,500 workers, manages public health, tests water for contamination, issues pollution discharge permits to industries and regulates tattoo parlors, among other duties.

If confirmed, Templeton would succeed long-time agency employee Earl Hunter as commissioner. She was chosen over Upstate hospital executive Ingo Angermeier and DHEC health regulator Pam Dukes. The job pays up to $184,000.

The DHEC board announced its choice in a 5:38 p.m. news release after interviewing Templeton and the other candidates Wednesday.

A mother of three from Mount Pleasant, Templeton said Wednesday night she is up to the task of running DHEC. While her background is in labor law, she has some experience representing nursing homes and hospitals, Templeton told The State. But she also said that should not be a requirement for managing the department.

“I’m intelligent, I’m a lawyer, I’ve got a law degree, I can read the law,’’ she said. noting that DHEC needs “someone directing it that has common sense, invites all perspectives and makes rationally based decisions. What else can you ask for in any position of leadership?’’

The DHEC board announcement comes at a time of increasing questions about the direction of the department and other environmental agencies under Republican Gov. Nikki Haley. Since taking office a year ago, Haley has installed new board members at DHEC and the Department of Natural Resources. Not long after new members gained control of the boards, long-time directors at both agencies quit.

Haley has said she wants the environmental departments to be more business friendly and to cut red tape — an issue that has upset conservation groups who worry the environment will suffer. Templeton has been supported by S.C. Manufacturers’ Alliance chief Lewis Gossett, who represents one of the state’s biggest business groups.

Allen Amsler, Haley’s DHEC’s board chairman, said Templeton is the best pick for the job.

“Over the last four months, the board and its search committee have conducted a nationwide search, reviewed several hundred applications and conducted numerous interviews,’’ Amsler said. “We’re quite certain Ms. Templeton has the background and skills to ably serve the people of our state as head of one of its most important agencies.”

Sen. John Courson, who like Lourie and Hutto is a member of the committee that will screen Templeton, said he’s impressed.

“She has the ability and the communicative skills to do the job,’’ Courson said.

Still, Templeton has angered any number of people at the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation since Haley appointed her to the cabinet-level post last year. Among other things, she laid off about four dozen workers and has been sued.

She also has drawn heat for commuting to Columbia from Mount Pleasant, instead of moving here to run LLR. If confirmed, Templeton said she plans to work from DHEC’s North Charleston office, rather than the agency’s Columbia headquarters.

“Her going to DHEC is perfectly frightening,’’ Leventis said.

Templeton, a former Irmo resident and Wofford College graduate who attended USC law school, said she understands the Senate will have questions.

“It’s a long row to hoe with the Senate, so I’m not packing my bags,’’ she said. “I’m still at LLR until all the people that need to bless this, bless it.’’