Columbia lawyer approved by senators to oversee DHEC. Says he’s no ‘shrinking violet’
A Columbia lawyer seeking the top appointed position at South Carolina’s health and environmental agency won approval Thursday from a Senate screening panel after telling lawmakers he’ll stand up to political pressure.
Robert Bolchoz, a candidate to chair the Department of Health and Environmental Control board, said he would resist efforts by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to have him take positions he doesn’t agree with.
“I’ve never been accused of not speaking up,’’ he said. “I’m not really a shrinking violet. The governor knows me very well. He did not nominate me because he was looking for a patsy or somebody that would do his bidding.’’
Bolchoz, a Republican, drew unanimous bi-partisan approval from the screening committee after expressing concern about pre-school children wearing masks to combat COVID 19; criticizing a recent DHEC board decision on beach protection; and expressing support for breaking DHEC into separate environmental and health agencies.
The Senate may vote on Bolchoz as early as next week, state Sen. Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, said.
DHEC, one of the state’s largest agencies, oversees both environmental protection and public health. The DHEC board chairman sets the agenda and direction for the department’s politically appointed governing body, which also hears environmental and health permit appeals. Bolchoz would replace Mark Elam as chairman.
Bolchoz, 58, is a graduate of The Citadel who grew up in Charleston before moving to Columbia in the 1980s and later raising a family here. He is well known in Columbia for his service in state government, having twice worked as a chief deputy attorney general. Bolchoz, who has a law degree from the University of South Carolina, ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 2010.
During Thursday’s hearing, Bolchoz said he:
▪ Doesn’t think Republicans should “roll over’’ for big industry at the expense of the environment and the common person. He said the state has “to protect the average working person.’’
▪ Favors the concept of splitting DHEC into separate agencies, but needs to know more about how much it would cost. Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, is pushing a bill to split DHEC, an agency accused of being unwieldy and slow to action. It is one of the few combined health and environmental agencies in the country.
“That is an idea to me that, just initially, makes obvious sense,’’ Bolchoz said, noting that “It’s sort of like having the Air Force and the Army as one branch of the Department of Defense.’’
▪ Disagrees with a recent DHEC board decision to give oceanfront landowners south of Myrtle Beach permission to keep a wall of sandbags to protect their homes from rising seas. Agency staff said the landowners illegally installed the bags, which can worsen erosion of the public beach.
“I’m not a big fan of what happened there,’’ he said of the board decision.
▪ Suspects DHEC may need more funding to fill a multitude of vacancies that are challenging its ability to provide services.
▪ Is not comfortable with pre-school children wearing masks at school, saying it could do them more harm than good. His response followed questions from Sen. Tom Corbin, a Greenville Republican who took a dim view of masking for kids.
The masking issue has been a hot topic in South Carolina and across the country. Health professionals have widely advocated using masks to reduce the spread of COVID 19, a disease that has killed more than 15,000 South Carolina residents.
But many Republican have opposed requirements, saying it’s a personal choice issue. McMaster has been opposed to mask mandates.
“I think making those kids wear masks is much worse for them in the long run,’’ Bolchoz said. “I’m opposed to those kids wearing those masks.’’
Reached after the meeting, Bolchoz said he’s also concerned about mask requirements for older school children, but has not spoken with DHEC director Edward Simmer about it and needs more information.
While that issue has been a divisive one, senators on the screening committee praised Bolchoz, who has been talking with lawmakers since McMaster nominated him to run the DHEC board early last month.
Democrats Brad Hutto of Orangeburg, Marlon Kimpson of Charleston and Mia McLeod of Columbia said they are glad to back Bolchoz. McLeod, a candidate for governor, said she has known Bolchoz for two decades.
“I really can’t say enough good things about Robert,’’ McLeod said. “I just wanted to lend my voice and talk about the fact that he is the real deal. I’m happy to see him on this new journey, this new venture.’’
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 1:46 PM.
