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Lawmakers to Chose Three South Carolina State University Trustees

Posted on: Tuesday, 4 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Lee Hendren, The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C.

Apr. 4--Today, shortly after noon, the state Legislature will elect three people to the Board of Trustees of South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. Newcomers will fill at least two of those seats.

The most publicly contested race has been for at-large Seat 9.

Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman, and Rep. Jerry Govan Jr., D-Orangeburg, support Earl A. Bridges Jr. of North Charleston.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, supports Joseph C. Sanders of Santee.

Glenn E. Jones of Columbia, who won the seat in 2002, filed for re-election, then withdrew.

The campaign of another challenger, John Calvin Pack of Sumter, ended in February with a legislative committee's unanimous vote not to recommend him, "due to his criminal history."

"Bridges is an attorney turned entrepreneur," and one of the few African-Americans who owns an auto dealership, Govan said in an interview Monday.

"We've been very impressed, not only by his business background but because he is energetic and we think he would make a good match for the university at this time," Govan said.

When Bridges lived in Gaffney, he briefly considered running for Seat 5 to succeed his friend, Dr. James Sanders, who resigned to accept an appointment to the S.C. Public Service Authority board.

Bridges now resides in Dorchester County and owns a Ford dealership in Summerville.

Bridges "has no ties to the university," Cobb-Hunter said in an interview Monday. He grew up in Louisiana and has been in South Carolina for five years.

"Joe Sanders is a graduate of the institution and has demonstrated a long-term commitment financially and in other ways," she said.

He established five $100,000 scholarships, including one at SCSU, and a scholarship fund and presidential endowment fund at SCSU. In 1985 he was the S.C. State homecoming grand marshal. In 1986 he became the first life member of S.C. State's National Alumni Association.

Cobb-Hunter said Sanders is typical of the "native daughters and sons going up north and having a career" -- in Sanders' case, 30 years as a certified property manager in New York -- "and then coming back home" to South Carolina later in life.

Sanders owns Sanders Pointe Cattle Ranch in Santee.

"The university could benefit from someone with his qualifications," Cobb-Hunter said. "They desperately need more people on that board who understand business in the corporate world."

"What they really need," she added, are trustees who clearly understand "the role of a board member."

Besides being "the most qualified and the best man for the job," Cobb-Hunter said, "he's my constituent. I am always pleased to support constituents who are trying to make a difference in a positive way."

Matthews, however, said a trustee appointment should not be based on "who you represent or who you like." It should be based on "the best interests of the university."

He said Bridges "has a great deal of business experience. I think he will be a good fit for the university."

If elected to the SCSU board, Bridges would have to relinquish his position as trustee of Limestone College in Gaffney.

Meanwhile, Charles H. Williams II of Orangeburg, a senior partner in the law firm of Williams and Williams, is seeking re-election to at-large Seat 7, which he has held since 1986. If re-elected, he will be the senior member on the board.

He is being challenged by Jay K. Fields of Orangeburg, a 1985 graduate of S.C. State. The Denmark Technical College administrator filed for Seat 12 two years ago, but was called to active military duty and missed his interview date with the candidate screening committee.

"Neither has spent a great deal of time campaigning for the position," Govan said. "I know Charles Williams as an active member of the Orangeburg community. I don't know as much about Fields."

"I have not heard from Mr. Fields," Cobb-Hunter said. "I have heard from Mr. Williams, asking for my support, so I will be supporting him."

"I've known Charles all my life," Matthews said. "He's got good business connections. And he brings some diversity to the board, and the board needs diversity."

Seat 3 is set to go to Lumus Byrd Jr. of Clinton, a 1965 graduate of S.C. State who retired after a business career with Schlitz Brewing Company, Greyhound Lines and a distribution company.

The seat is reserved for a resident of the 3rd Congressional District.

Charles C. Lewis Sr. of Anderson, an S.C. State alumnus who has held Seat 3 since 1981, initially filed for re-election but later withdrew.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C.

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Source: The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, South Carolina

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