CHARLESTON, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford has appointed two friends to the State Ports Authority board.

Sanford has named Carroll A. Campbell III, of Columbia, and Harry J. Butler Jr., of Georgetown, to the board that advises and approves major spending decisions for the Port of Charleston.

Campbell, son of former Gov. Carroll Campbell Jr., works in real estate and property management and is part owner of numerous Wendy's fast-food franchises around South Carolina.

Butler has 30 years of real estate experience and has run several dozen businesses, including Wild Dunes Real Estate and Wild Dunes Development.

The appointments reflect Sanford's pledge to run state government like a private business, said gubernatorial spokesman, Will Folks.

Members are appointed to seven-year terms.

Campbell has held executive positions with a number of businesses, working in governmental affairs for Scana, a Columbia utility holding company, for most of the 1990s. He is vice president of governmental relations for Southern Property Management.

"I know what it means to make payroll," said Campbell, who worked on Sanford's gubernatorial campaign and considers him a close friend.

It's expected Campbell would replace SPA board Vice Chairman William Timmerman, of Columbia, whose seat has expired. Timmerman would not say Tuesday whether he'd been asked by Sanford to step down.

Butler would replace board secretary Jack Scoville, of Georgetown, who has already told the board he will honor Sanford's request to step down.

Sanford, who was critical of the SPA's decision earlier this year to spend $750,000 on a statewide advertising campaign in a tight budget year, has said the board should review the agency's top management and make changes, if necessary.

Sen. Arthur Ravenel, R-Mount Pleasant, a frequent critic of SPA spending, said Tuesday that he didn't know if there would be more appointments but that he wants to see internal changes.

"I think management changes are in order," Ravenel said, calling the SPA's investment in the now-defunct terminal for Daniel Island "an appalling waste of state agency money."

The Senate Transportation Committee was scheduled to take up both appointments Wednesday. With committee approval, the appointments would go to the full Senate for a vote.

Butler, who said he wouldn't be able to make Wednesday's hearing, said he hopes to serve in an interim capacity until his hearing can be rescheduled.

Both could be on board for the next meeting in June.

Information from: The Post And Courier