Another state agency head appointed by Sanford faces questions

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism has within it one of the best parts of state government: the state parks and recreation areas. The department oversees the preservation of history and natural beauty in South Carolina and offer South Carolinians and visitors from outside the state outstanding recreational opportunities. It's dedicated employees showcase South Carolina at its best.

However, The Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism is the lastet agency in Governor Sanford's cabinet to face serious scrunity from the legislature. According to published reports, Rep. Brian White of Anderson grilled Director Chad Prosser for his lack of in the office hours, among other issues. Add that to the mess in the Department of Social Services and the question some business leaders and local government officials are raising about the operation of the Department of Commerce, and well, it has been a rough couple of months for Governor Sanford and his efforts to put more power under a Governor.

While Director Prosser might have a valid point in how he can work from outside the office in this era of instant communication, his travel record points to him being out of touch. Nearly 80 percent of Prosser's travel expenses last year were out of state. Further, after nearly six years as Director, he admits he has only visited about half of the state parks in South Carolina. How can you lead people if you do not get out and meet them and see where they work?

Prosser could have easily visited each state park, historical site or recreational area within his first two years in office. He should be on the third round of such visits. While I am sure Prosser is a decent man, his apparent hands off management approach is the same style that apparently got DSS in such a mess.

It is ironic. Governor Sanford has spent nearly every bit of political capital he has on arguing that Governors should be able to have more authority over agencies in state government, yet, it appears, in the agencies he does have power over, he has appointed people who take a laid back approach to their duties.

While Rep. White's call for Prosser to give up his salary to pay the salaries of lower paid state workers in the agency seems a bit melodramatic, White's point is well taken. One can bet if a commissioner or director of an agency elected by the legislature acted so laid back, Governor Sanford and his people would pounce. Perhaps the Governor would bring a basset hound to the State House to show is disapproval. (As a basset hound owner, I know how laid back those dogs are.)

That said, watch out for some posts from bloggers in the Governor's corner against Rep. White. It is how they operate. While most successful people in politics and business go to their critics and try to listen to them and understand them and find a way to placate them, Governor Sanford and his people simply declare war on their critics. Perhaps in their last two years in power, they should rethink that approach. Perhaps that approach is why the agencies the Governor has under him are under so many questions and why his proposals have little chance of coming to fruition.