COLUMBIA - Senate confirmation of Chad Prosser as director of state Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department will not start for two weeks, further delaying the special election to replace him as Horry County Council chairman.

Prosser has said he will not resign his elected post in Horry County until he is confirmed as Gov. Mark Sanford's choice to lead the agency.

Confirmation begins with the Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee.

The panel has a meeting today, but its chairman, Sen. Greg Gregory, R-Lancaster, said the paperwork came too late to make it to today's agenda.

Prosser's nomination and documents were sent to the Senate on March 12. The Senate staff then ordered state police background checks before officially posting his nomination Tuesday.

Gregory said he wants to examine Prosser's documents himself and give other members of the committee the same opportunity.

Gregory said Prosser came to his office to introduce himself a few weeks ago.

He said he did not know him before that time.

"I hear good things about him from the Horry County delegation," Gregory said. In addition, "a lot of people in hospitality have written me in his favor."

It's possible that, if Gregory's committee votes for confirmation April 2, the recommendation could be sent to the full Senate for its afternoon session.

Filing for office to replace Prosser would begin the third Friday after his resignation.

Also delayed are the confirmations of Don Leonard of Myrtle Beach to the State Infrastructure Bank and Tee Hooper of Greenville to chair the state Department of Transportation.

The Senate Transportation Committee scheduled those hearings for today but has not yet received the paperwork, the staff said.