Gov. Mark Sanford this week expanded his Military Base Advisory Committee, and the two newest members bring added perspective from the legislature and from local communities that may be affected by potential base closures.

The appointment of Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island, and Rep. Bill Cotty, R-Richland-Kershaw, adds a perspective from the Lowcountry and Richland County home of Fort Jackson, a U.S. Army basic training base. Additionally, both chambers of the General Assembly add a dimension to an established group of experienced military professionals.

The new round of federal base closings outlined by the federal government's Base Realignment and Closure Committee is expected in 2005. Previous rounds in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995 affected 451 installations.

Last month, Beaufort County Council joined the battle voting to shift $50,000 from the county's general fund to the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee. The funds will be used as part of the chamber's Military Affairs Committee campaign to save county bases. Beaufort has discussed partnering with other communities across South Carolina. Richardson's appointment is a good fit for Beaufort County, which has three military installations: the Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot at Parris Island, the U.S. Naval Hospital and the Marine Corps Air Station.

Officials representing the Marine Corps and the Department of the Navy visited Beaufort County last fall touted the importance of local bases to the country and this community. Until this week, about 40 percent of the air station's 3,900 active-duty personnel were deployed, including three fighter squadrons, to southwest Asia as part of the war with Iraq. Another contingent from the Naval Hospital was deployed.

As to the governor's advisory committee, Sanford said Richardson's "marketing and public relations background brings another needed dimension to this committee's efforts, as does (Cotty's) É combination of military, legislative and Washington experience" bring new perspectives to the issue.

While it will take more than public relations to fend off a potential base closure, these men should play a key role in protecting South Carolina's military facilities from the upcoming round of base closures.