Pro-Haley political group raises $515,000

A pro-Gov. Nikki Haley political group has raised $515,000 to elect legislative candidates this year that back the Republican’s agenda.

Great Day SC raised the money from six contributors, including a pair who donated to a previous pro-Haley political group, according to a filing provided to The State. Only one Great Day SC contributor was from South Carolina.

Great Day chief Tim Pearson — Haley’s top strategist, and former campaign manager and chief of staff — said Great Day SC, formed in February, is not ready to disclose how its money will be spent.

Great Day’s filing did not include any expenditures.

However, Pearson has been paid more than $1 million in earnings tied to Haley since she first ran for governor in 2009.

Pearson received $119,000 from Haley’s re-election campaign at the end of March, according to records filed with the S.C. Ethics Commission. He had not been paid by the campaign since May.

Over the past seven years, Pearson has been paid $607,000 for running the governor’s two campaigns, $270,400 as her chief of staff in the governor’s office and $179,600 as an adviser to the first pro-Haley political organization, The Movement Fund.

Pearson, who left as Haley’s chief of staff in October 2012, remains a presence in Haley’s office. He attends her news conferences and other events, including updates with public-safety officials during the October flood.

He did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday about his compensation tied to the governor.

However, John Crangle, state director for the government watchdog Common Cause group, said lawmakers should regulate how closely non-state employees, who do not have to follow state ethics laws, work with the governor's office.

"It's a political transgender problem. Who should get access to the governor's office?" Crangle said. "She does not let you or I come into her office and talk about those matters."

Crangle asked if Pearson has the security clearance needed to hear briefings reserved for members of Haley's staff.

Pearson does not have a security clearance and does not attend those briefings, the governor’s office said.

After paying Pearson, Haley’s campaign has drawn down almost all the $539,000 left over in her 2014 re-election account. The campaign had $39,700 remaining in that account at the end of March, according to its filings.

Great Day gives Haley a chance to push her agenda during her second and final term as governor. There are no limits on the contributions that the political group, registered with the Internal Revenue Service, can accept from individuals and companies.

Pearson declined to say how Great Day would spend its contributions. But, last month, he said the group would not back the state Senate run of state Rep. Stephen Goldfinch, R-Georgetown, who voted for a House roads-funding plan that included raising the state gas tax.

Other likely targets of Great Day include Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, and Senate Ethics Committee chairman Luke Rankin, R-Horry. They have fought Haley’s efforts to increase income disclosure by lawmakers.

Great Day contributors included Florida pharmaceutical entrepreneur Rama Mantena and New Jersey healthcare mogul Vivek Garipalli, who donated $872,000 combined to The Movement Fund, nearly half of the $1.8 million that fund raised overall.

Mantena donated $100,000 to Great Day, while Garipalli kicked in $250,000.

Other Great Day contributors included:

▪  New River Auto Mall of Hardeeville, $100,000

▪  Financier Rex Sinquefield of Westphalia, Mo., $50,000

▪  Construction equipment dealer Yancey Brothers Co. of Austell, Ga., $10,000

▪  Creative Solutions Healthcare of Fort Worth, Texas, $5,000

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Pro-Haley political group raises $515,000."