Sanford hires former campaign manager to governor's staff

JIM DAVENPORT

Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford was unapologetic about hiring his former campaign manager to work in the governor's office, but the staffer's salary is drawing criticism from some.

Jason Miller, who helped the governor win re-election in a landslide victory over Democrat Tommy Moore last month, has started working in the governor's office, making $106,000 annually, or $78 less than Sanford. His job duties or experience aren't exactly clear.

"What are the people of South Carolina getting for $106,000 a year?" said John Crangle, state director for the government watchdog group Common Cause. "What services will there be that warrants that level of compensation?"

Miller did not answer telephone calls to his office this week or respond to messages left on his cell phone. But Sanford this week described the newly created position as an organizer who will work on the governor's more focused agenda.

"We do need to work really well with coalitions" in advancing changes, Sanford said. "And he's going to run point in that process for me."

Miller is not the first to be rewarded with a job after running a successful campaign.

Former Gov. Jim Hodges, a Democrat who lost to Sanford, hired his media consultant, Kevin Geddings, as chief of staff when he was first elected. And Former Gov. Carroll Campbell hired his campaign manager, Warren Tompkins, to lead his staff after his first victory.

Tompkins said about 25 campaign staffers worked for Campbell during the governor's first term.

"It's a very common occurrence," Tompkins said. "Sometimes you discover good talent in the political process."

Miller will be deputy chief of staff for coalitions and strategic planning. Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said Miller gained public policy experience as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Rick Keller from 2001 to 2003. And before joining Sanford's campaign, Miller managed Virginia Sen. George Allen's campaign, Allen's office said.

Miller was hired about a year ago to run Sanford's campaign. He was first on the payroll in January and has been paid $56,235, campaign finance reports show.

Now he's being paid $4,000 more than Sanford's chief of staff, Henry White. And he makes more than three of Sanford's Cabinet members.

"It's a pretty nice salary," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Cooper, R-Piedmont.

Part of Miller's job is working with people outside the office.

"You have to run a second campaign," Sanford said, to show "what's relevant to the average guy out there in what we're trying to advance."

As an example of how that will work, Sanford talked about getting the trucking industry to bring pressure on the state Transportation Department to make widening U.S. Highway 17 in Beaufort County a higher priority.

After a Cabinet meeting this week, Sanford brainstormed with the head of the state Highway Patrol and others about setting up temporary weigh stations that would back up truck traffic on U.S. 17 and Interstate 95.

"All of the sudden if trucks can't go that way, then the Trucking Association would care a lot. They'd talk to every (Transportation Department) commissioner. You'd probably see it - boom - end up back on the front burner," Sanford said. "It's about using those kinds of tools in ways we haven't before."