After 18 months on the job, Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston has been selected administrator of the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs, an agency charged with making sure businesses treat consumers fairly.

The commission overseeing the agency voted 8-0 Tuesday to promote Pinkston from acting administrator, a post she had held since fall 2002.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Pinkston, 54, said after hugging commissioners, who chose her over two other finalists. “I feel so good to have such a vote of confidence from the commissioners.”

Pinkston, who has worked for Consumer Affairs since 1980, was chosen over 62 other applicants, including finalists Elliott F. Elam Jr., an agency attorney, and former state Rep. Michael Easterday, R-Greenville.

Pinkston had served as director of public relations until then-administrator Phil Porter left the agency to form a private law practice in late 2002. Her salary remained unchanged.

In the past 18 months, Pinkston oversaw a rapid expansion in the agency’s services and outreach, despite severe cutbacks in state funding. Among her major victories was the General Assembly’s passage of the anti-predatory lending law, which took effect Jan. 1.

“She’s had success in the (state) Legislature because of her approach to the lawmakers,” said Lonnie Randolph, chairman of the commission’s Search Committee. “And she’s overseen a major turnaround the morale and direction of this agency.”

The commission delayed a vote on the next administrator for 18 months until scarce state funds became available to offer an appropriate salary, Randolph said.

The commission soon will recommend a commensurate upgrade in Pinkston’s salary and benefits, said commission chairman Waring Howe Jr. The upgrade will require approvals from one or more other state agencies.

The department is working off a current budget of $1.7 million — one-third less than it received in 2001. It has 43 full-time and temporary staffers, and 17 vacancies, Pinkston said.

Consumer Affairs, whose mission is to be a consumer advocate, also represents the public’s interest in utility and insurance rate cases. However, those responsibilities might change over the next year.

A recent law reforming the state’s utility regulation process will create a new state agency to investigate utility companies.

The new agency will represent both consumer and business interests in utility cases before the S.C. Public Service Commission and courts.

As a result, Consumer Affairs will refocus on representing consumer interests in insurance rates and a variety of other industries.

Just this week, it unveiled a new online “Buyers Beware” list of 25 businesses that have failed repeatedly to respond to consumer complaints.

Over the past 18 months, the agency expanded outreach to rural consumers and to financial industries it regulates, Pinkston said.

From July 2003 until March 30, it also recovered $882,986 for consumers who claimed to be overcharged, or unfairly charged, by private companies subject to the agency’s review.

Over the same period, it fielded 4,057 written complaints and 43,075 telephone calls, from consumers seeking help, according to a report distributed at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

Reach L’Heureux at (803) 771-8463 or dlheureux@thestate.com.