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reprint or license thisSANFORD’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS
A time for ‘vision’
Governor has chance to push major goals for next four years
By AARON GOULD SHEININ
asheinin@thestate.com
Gov. Mark Sanford is not a big fan of inaugural speeches.
He said so himself four years ago during his first inaugural address on the south steps of the State House.
When he walks down those same granite steps to deliver his second inaugural address shortly after noon today, Sanford has the chance to kick-start his second term and create a legacy.
“He needs to offer a vision for South Carolina,” said Bob McAlister, a Columbia public relations consultant, veteran GOP activist and chief of staff for former Republican Gov. Carroll Campbell.
Sanford is “much better at providing details of policy initiatives. He seems uncomfortable with rhetorical splendor, shall we say. But an inaugural address is for rhetorical splendor,” McAlister said.
Sanford should try to convince voters they made the right decision when they re-elected him in November.
“And then give the voters and the taxpayers the big picture that the governor has for this state, his vision,” McAlister said. “Vision is an awfully important commodity. Vision cannot be ignored. It cannot be wasted.”
Sanford and his staff are not offering many clues to the speech’s content. Spokesman Joel Sawyer said its themes will largely be “what he has talked about for the past four years, in terms of restructuring, fiscal responsibility and limited spending.”
In 2003, Sanford discussed government restructuring, fiscal responsibility and spending limitations. He also touched on taxation, education and quality of life.
From that day through the Nov. 7 election, Sanford’s record of accomplishment has been mixed. He pushed through an income tax cut for small businesses, and his use of the bully pulpit was at least partly responsible for lawmakers’ repaying outstanding debts and replenishing reserve accounts.
That speech had its rhetorical flourishes as well and recognized the need for a vision.
“It is Ecclesiastes that says where there is no vision the people perish,” Sanford said four years ago.
He structured his inaugural address around the idea that changing the state’s direction would take “collective effort, focused vision, persistence, sacrifice and bold steps.”
Change is possible, Sanford said, “if we recognize this new direction involves the understanding that taxing and spending policies, education, economic development and qualify of life issues are not separate disciplines, but interrelated foundations upon which our future rises or falls.”
Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, wants to hear Sanford today lay out a similar vision and a commitment to following through as those proposals move through the General Assembly.
“He needs to concentrate on just a few items that will be his legacy,” Smith said. “It will be important to communicate that to us and work with us to accomplish that.”
Sanford has hinted during the past few months that his second term will more focused. He has spoken often about the “rifle shots” his administration will take. That’s Sanford-speak for him promising to pick carefully the issues he champions, so as to not overextend and dilute his overall efforts.
That’s wise, said veteran lobbyist Dwight Drake, who was a legislative aide to Democratic Gov. Dick Riley, the first governor since Reconstruction to serve two terms.
“There’s sort of a tendency of people who come to the office (of governor) to want to address every issue, big and small, and get involved in everything,” Drake said. “You can do that, but you won’t get much done.”
Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658.
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