After Rec Commission fiasco, Richland legislators look to change how they pick board members

A day after S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley fired all but one remaining member of the troubled Richland County Recreation Commission’s board, Richland County legislators pushed to change how those board members are selected in the first place.

The Richland legislative delegation Thursday put off nominating new members to fill the six vacancies on the Rec Commission’s board.

Legislators, who name the commission, said they need at least a month to gather and vet potential members for the commission, rocked this year by allegations of nepotism, sexual harassment and other improper behavior.

“God bless their souls if (applicants) want to do that,” said state Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland. “I don’t have any idea why they would.”

The delegation made few decisions unanimously at its annual meeting Thursday.

State Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Richland, logged protest votes against nominations to several county boards that are named by legislators, saying the delegation must make its selection process more transparent.

Currently, an appointments committee, made up of five legislators, sifts through applications for open board spots, then passes its recommended selections – but not the discarded candidates – to the full delegation for a vote.

Typically, the committee reviews applicants without the candidates being present, meaning it cannot ask follow-up questions, legislators said.

“So it’s a piece of paper that’s completed, and we go off that to determine the best interests of Richland County,” Ballentine said.

Ballentine and others suggested the full legislative delegation should meet and review candidates before they are nominated.

Other lawmakers contend the current process works, adding all members of the legislative delegation are welcome to sit in on meetings of the appointments committee.

“If you come to the hearing, if you come to the committee meeting, you could have that opportunity,” said state Rep. Chris Hart, D-Richland.

State Rep. James Smith, D-Richland, who was elected Thursday as the delegation’s new chairman, said he would push to change the process.

“In the end, I think we’ll have a better, improved and transparent process.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2016 at 2:43 PM with the headline "After Rec Commission fiasco, Richland legislators look to change how they pick board members."