Vote on Gov. McMaster’s pick to lead SC Highway Patrol delayed over tax questions
A state Senate panel held off on voting Tuesday to move forward with Gov. Henry McMaster’s pick to lead South Carolina’s Department of Public Safety after questioning the chief of the North Charleston Police Department over unpaid taxes.
That vote to move Reggie Burgess’ nomination to the full Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to happen next Tuesday, subcommittee chairman Sen. Michael Gambrell, R-Anderson, told reporters.
Gambrell said Burgess must amend some paperwork that he turned in, and the committee has a “few things ... to mull over a little bit,” declining to elaborate further. “I can’t say.”
The delay in Burgess’ confirmation comes as McMaster and lawmakers are tasked with finding a replacement for Public Safety Director Leroy Smith, who is stepping down when his term ends next month.
Senators met in a nearly one-hour executive session on Tuesday to discuss “legal matters” related to Burgess.
When they came out of their private meeting, Senate staff asked Burgess, 54, to explain tax liens against him from 2006 to 2009 and 2011 and 2012 — two later year liens that he did not originally report.
“I had a tax preparer that I trusted,” Burgess testified, saying that he found out about the liens in 2012 but told senators he took all the necessary steps to get them paid off. “I found out about it through the IRS and started a payment plan to pay off the taxes I owed.”
The S.C. Governor’s Office backed Burgess up Tuesday, saying in a statement that his taxes are paid in full.
“This is simply a matter of amending his disclosure to the Senate, which will be done before the end of the day today (Tuesday),” said spokesman Brian Symmes. “The governor has complete confidence in Chief Burgess and is confident that the Senate will confirm him.”
Aside from the tax issue, senators appeared pleased with Burgess’ testimony.
“He did have excellent answers,” Gambrell told reporters. “I liked what he talked about, going out and meeting with the rank-and-file and everyone and the things that he did.”
Senators’ confidence is a good sign for Burgess’ nomination.
Hoping to end contention that over the years has put S.C. lawmakers and the state agency that oversees troopers at odds, the governor nominated Burgess in November, effectively firing director Smith who will serve out his second term through Feb. 1.
Smith, who was appointed by then-Gov. Nikki Haley in 2011, found himself several times under fire from lawmakers as the state law enforcement agency struggled to recruit and retain employees and troopers reported low morale.
Three years ago, the S.C. House removed Smith’s $129,851 salary from the state budget only to have it reinstated by the Senate.
That same year, one highway patrolman publicly handed over his resignation letter at a state House hearing, testifying that he was just one of many troopers unhappy with the agency’s handling of internal matters and its leadership.
Burgess thanked lawmakers Tuesday for giving him an opportunity “to do good.”
Should he get cleared by the Senate, his appointment would be to a four-year term starting Feb. 1. Burgess would be one of three African Americans in the governor’s cabinet.
Burgess has been with the North Charleston Police Department since 1989, but has been chief since 2018. His resume includes working in crime prevention, and as a patrol officer, school resource officer and narcotics investigator, according to his North Charleston biography.
“I’m ready to go,” Burgess said Tuesday, surrounded by his wife, Tracy Burgess, and several Lowcountry area lawmakers.
In his nominating letter, the governor called Burgess “one of the finest leaders our state has ever produced.”
“His career in law enforcement and personal achievement is remarkable. I am confident that he will do an excellent job as the new director by restoring employee morale, recruiting and retaining additional troopers and addressing discipline and grievance policies.”
