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9.24.08
Andy Brack
Drummond Center at Erskine College kicks off speaker series
Andy Brack provided a lesson in South Carolina legislative history Sept. 17 during his talk that kicked off the "Leading Issues in South Carolina Public Life" series sponsored by the Drummond Center at Erskine College.
Brack, a one-time political reporter and former spokesman for the late U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, is now the publisher of S.C. Statehouse Report, a weekly legislative forecast that informs readers about what is going to happen in South Carolina politics and policy.
He also runs a marketing and consulting business, The Brack Group.
During his talk in the Bowie Arts Center, Brack talked to the group of Erskine students, faculty and staff about the problems being encountered in South Carolina.
While the state has a lot that is positive about it, he said, South Carolina winds up on the "wrong end of too many lists."
Brack said the challenges for the state are numerous and "I would argue that the Legislature is not paying attention to the problems," which include health care, education, crime and others.
"We can do a lot better, but we need leaders who focus on the big stuff, not specialized issues that enhance their electibility," Brack wrote in a column in his publication.
He said people can't look at the problems of today without reviewing the state's history -- how we've ended up politically where we are as a state.
South Carolina has gone from being a vital state in the war for independence and in the new nation to being rife with the problems of today.
"South Carolina was very, very important at the beginning of our country," Brack said and pointed out that it was also a colony where people were well off.
By the time of the Civil War, the state was torn apart and at the conclusion of the war came Reconstruction, which resulted in the election of a primarily African-American legislature in 1868.
The state's response to reconstruction was that by 1890, there were no African-American legislators and that continued for 50 years.
South Carolina disenfranchised African-Americans and developed a weak governor system of government, he said.
The state's wealth was gone by the end of the Civil War and poverty was rampant.
Although textiles dominated the late 19th and most of the 20th century, the state continued to struggle until industrialization hit with the development of Santee Cooper in 1934 for electric power, nuclear weapons at the Savannah River Site in 1951 and establishment of the Development Board in 1954.
During Hollings' time as governor, international recruitment took a front seat. Hollings also led the effort to begin the technical school program in the state and the development of educational television.
The Voting Rights Act fueled political realignment and in 1974, Jim Edwards became the first Republican governor since Reconstruction. Democrats had long dominated the General Assembly and there was a power struggle in the state.
"Democratic white males ran the state," Brack said.
The ascendancy to power by Republicans began with Ronald Reagan's election as president in 1980 and today, the GOP controls the legislature, the governor's office and eight of nine constitutional offices.
"Infighting may be hurting" the strength of the Republican Party in South Carolina, Brack said.
Today, he said, the General Assembly remains "white male dominated," and there is more partisanship and influence among special interests.
The mission of the Drummond Center at Erskine College is to promote and perpetuate statesmanship in South Carolina through the encouragement of considered leadership, public service and personal excellence.
Dr. Ashley Woodiwiss, Grady Patterson Professor of Politics, is executive director of the Drummond Center and has planned a number of special events this fall.
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