Freshmen make voices heard

First-year lawmakers say job is what you make it

By LEE BANDY

On Politics

Freshman legislators are to be seen, not heard.

But don’ t tell that old saying to state Rep. Nikki Haley, R-Lexington, or Rep. Nathan Ballentine, R-Richland.

They’ve never heard the phrase. And even if they had, they wouldn’t abide by it, they say. It’s not their nature.

“This job is truly what you make it,” said Haley, finishing up her first session in the General Assembly. “If you want to be a player, you can be a player right from the beginning.”

Haley is a giant slayer. She earned the title in 2004 after defeating state Rep. Larry Koon, R-Lexington, the most senior member of the House at the time. It was her first run for public office.

Haley was given the cold shoulder by most Republican legislators. She had defeated one of their more popular members. He had friends galore in the House.

“The first few weeks were a pretty lonely place,” Haley recalled.

But she wasn’t discouraged.

Haley and other freshmen decided they weren’t going to sit idly on the sidelines. They were determined to get involved, to make a difference.

“We immediately became officers on our committees, became floor workers and proved that you don’t have to be seen or heard,” Haley said.

Ballentine recalled the time he and other freshmen were read the riot act for voting to sustain one of Gov. Mark Sanford’s vetoes.

“My votes didn’t get me many friends over there in the Legislature,” he said. “Nikki and I felt a rumbling after the first veto was sustained. On the second, they (House leaders) came over to me and said, ‘This isn’t the way we do things.’”

“You have no idea the amount of pressure on the vetoes,” Ballentine said.

On his first day in office, Ballentine learned about a legislative prayer group that meets once a week.

“When I saw that,” he said, “I suddenly realized that these guys might not be all that bad.”

Ballentine upset House Majority Leader Rick Quinn, R-Richland, in one of the big surprises of election night 2004.

Ballentine doesn’t regret making the race. He just considers himself fortunate enough to serve in the House.

“Even on my bad days, I considered it a privilege to be over there. It’s humbling.”

Rep. Paul Agnew, D-Abbeville, also considers it a privilege just to be in the House.

“There is so much activity, so much energy in the legislative process,” he said.

However, he would like to see more independence and less partisanship.

Agnew also is impressed by how hard members work as a body.

“We may have philosophical differences as to how government should be run. But we all feel we are representing our constituents.”

Rep. Joan Brady, R-Richland, found the Legislature a much different place from what she expected.

“It is so much more about relationships and commitments than it is about policy and issues. And that has been surprising to me.

“As a freshman, it’s difficult to be effective because you are still working to form those relationships.”

Brady said there are times when it makes sense for members to vote with the leadership and their party.

“It’s a lesson I’m learning. It’s all about compromise.

“I believe everyone up there feels like they can make a difference. It’s a great group of people. Everybody is gracious and friendly. I feel everybody is there for the right reason.”