Public Service chief resigns

COLUMBIA -- South Carolina Public Service Commission Executive Director Bruce Duke has resigned amid allegations he made false statements on his resume about his academic background and military experience.

PSC Commissioners voted Wednesday to accept Duke's written letter of resignation, according to G. O'Neal Hamilton, the commission's vice chairman. His resignation is effective immediately.

Duke resigned for personal reasons and "had a desire to follow his career in another path," Hamilton said.

"He wanted to pursue other interests," Randy Mitchell, the commission's chairman, said. The commission's vote was unanimous, he added.

Duke had been the subject of a commission investigation earlier this month to determine whether some credentials on his resume are misstated.

The resignation letter did not mention the investigation, Mitchell said.

"We had a review in process, but that review I assume may continue, but that'll be left up to the commission," Mitchell said.

A copy of Duke's resume obtained by The Associated Press shows he has a master's degree in government and international studies from the University of South Carolina and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1974 until 1977 when he was honorably discharged.

Records from the University of South Carolina show Duke has a bachelor's degree in political science from the school, and military records show Duke served in the Marine Corps from July 31, 1975 until December 13, 1976.

Hamilton said Duke was "a fine man" who had nothing to apologize to the commission about.

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