Lawmaker will lead House ethics panel

AIKEN - State Rep. Roland Smith, the head of Aiken County's lawmaking delegation, was elected chairman of the House Legislative Ethics Committee on Thursday after serving on that body for the past 13 years.

ADVERTISEMENT

Have a thought? Go to the Forums or Chat.

Subscribe  E-mail this story  Write a letter to the Editor  Printer-friendly version  Get news on your PDA  Get e-mail headlines

A Republican from Langley, the retired mail carrier and acting minister received unanimous support from his five peers.

He was nominated by committee member state Rep. Bill Sandifer, a fellow Republican who represents Oconee and Pickens counties.

"He is hugely respected here," Mr. Sandifer said. "What he has that is vitally important is unquestionable integrity. I don't know if there's anybody in the entire House that would question that."

Mr. Smith was the vice chairman and replaces state Rep. Becky Richardson, R-York County, who resigned and will leave the House after June to take a seat on the South Carolina Employment Security Commission, Mr. Smith said.

The 15-year legislative veteran, who also chairs the House Ways and Means Committee's K-12 education subcommittee, takes over at a crucial political time. All of the House's 124 seats expire at year's end, and elections will be held in November. One of the committee's central responsibilities is monitoring candidates for the House and making sure they properly file campaign contributions and run clean races.

The committee fields any complaints by a candidate or sitting House member, and can recommend the expulsion of a member, which requires additional approval from the House. The panel can issue fines and public reprimands on its own.

As chairman, Mr. Smith also will steer the committee as it issues independent opinions on matters before the House.

In an interview after his nomination was approved, Mr. Smith said he was honored.

"When it comes to deciding ethics issues, we look at it on its face value," he said. "I think it's critically important that we do our job, but do it fair."

Reach Josh Gelinas at (803)279-6895

or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Friday, February 13, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle