Lobbyist didn't lobby for solicitor retirement change

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Guest column • Bob Ariail: Lobbyist didn't lobby for solicitor retirement change (06/06/05) • Bob McAlister: Graham beaten up by those who know the 'facts' (06/05/05) • Bob Inglis: Hydrogen can be element of automotive revolution (06/05/05) • Tony Trout: Pay raises shouldn't be earned the political way (06/03/05) • David H. Wilkins: It's been a privilege to serve South Carolina (06/02/05) More details Bob Ariail of Greenville is solicitor of the 13th Judicial Circuit that includes Greenville and Pickens counties. He served as a part-time assistant solicitor from 1974-1997 specializing in the prosecution of murder, armed robbery and other serious felony charges, and during the same time was in private practice specializing in civil law and trial work. He was appointed solicitor in July 1997, was elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2002.

First, let's talk about the lobbyist issue. While it was not my intention when I became solicitor in 1997 to employ a lobbyist, I am certainly glad that I, along with five other solicitors, hired one in 2003.

The state budget cuts beginning in 2000 resulted in a state funding loss to this office of over $600,000 per year. All of this money has now been restored, primarily through the efforts of the lobbyist we employed. I emphasize "we" because the news stories were written to make it appear I was the only solicitor paying the lobbyist. The funds for my portion of this expense came from this office's share of money forfeited to the court by bondsmen for defendants who failed to appear for court.

No taxpayer money has ever been used to employ the lobbyist. This investment has resulted in over $600,000 per year in restored state funding to the solicitor's office for Greenville and Pickens counties. This is a direct savings to the taxpayers of these two counties who would have lost this funding for their solicitor's office without the daily presence in Columbia of the lobbyist to advance the message of prosecution and how the cuts were harmful to us. In spite of the misconception created by the news articles, hiring the lobbyist was a good business management practice, and I stand by the decision I made.

The second issue is the proposal we made to change the Solicitors and Judges Retirement System which was founded on three sound goals:

1. Save the retirement system money making it more financially sound for the future.

2. Promote the retention of long term and experienced judges and solicitors.

3. Costs no additional money to the state.

Because our proposal met these goals it was supported by the State Retirement System, the Solicitors Association, the judicial department, the chief justice of the Supreme Court and numerous legislators. This proposal did not concern just me, but affected many people in our retirement system. It offers a choice to qualified members; upon reaching maximum retirement they may return to service if they choose with absolutely no extra cost to the taxpayers.

And the public is protected by its right to vote for solicitor every four years. If another candidate is more qualified, the voters have the choice as to who should occupy the office. But, it is not good policy to force experience to retire solely to give the job to someone else. In spite of the misconception created by the news articles, the retirement proposal was and is a good business management practice, and I stand by my decision to support it as well.

As to the suggestion the lobbyist worked to promote the passage of the retirement bill, this is simply not true. Although the news stories were written in such a way as to suggest a connection, there was no one quoted in the stories who was ever approached by the lobbyist. The truth is no member of the Legislature was contacted by the lobbyist in an effort to promote or secure a vote for this retirement proposal.

My tenure as solicitor has been characterized by my commitment to:

1. Cost efficiency in office administration and procedure.

2. Advancements in technology and docket management.

3. Innovative initiatives such as drug court, domestic violence prevention, juvenile arbitration.

4. Pending caseload reduction (40 percent over eight years).

5. Successful prosecution of death penalty cases (nine in eight years).

6. Reduction in employee turnover (70 percent in eight years).

7. Openness to public view of all aspects of the office operation.

I have spent eight years as solicitor building the reputation of the solicitor's office of the 13th Circuit based on integrity, openness, professionalism and efficiency. Everything I have done regarding both the legislation and the lobbyist has been undertaken in that same manner. I will continue to work using these four guiding principals to keep the 13th Circuit the finest in the state.