Harrell to succeed Wilkins as House speaker

David Wilkins congratulates Bobby Harrell Jr., right, after being sworn in as the new speaker of the House. Patrick Collard/Staff e-mail this story

Harrell, 49, will replace outgoing Speaker David Wilkins of Greenville, who will be sworn in June 21 as the U.S. ambassador to Canada. Rep. Jim Harrison of Columbia, the last competitor to challenge Harrell for the speaker's seat, withdrew from the race Thursday morning.

Members voted 119-1 to elect Harrell as their new leader, the lone no vote coming from Rep. Dan Tripp of Mauldin, who alleged that Harrell had threatened him twice for voting against Harrell's wishes. Harrell denied making any threats.

It was a day of celebration for Harrell and for the Lowcountry, which saw a third top position in state government go to someone from that region. Harrell joins Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell of Charleston and Gov. Mark Sanford of Sullivans Island. Harrell told reporters he would treat all regions fairly.

"I have no doubt that he's going to make a good-faith effort to try to treat every part of the state equally," said John Simpkins, a political science professor at Furman University. "But he's going to be under the same kind of pressure that David Wilkins was under from us up here in the Upstate in trying to make sure that he's looking out for his constituency."

Ben Haskew, president of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, said while there is some concern about the concentration of power in the hands of those with Lowcountry ties, the Greenville area still has a strong legislative delegation.

"Obviously some may be concerned but our view is that we're going to work with anyone in that position and certainly make our case," he said. "And the way we start that is working with other members of our delegation in the county and in the region."

One positive note in Thursday's events for those keeping regional scores was the possibility that Harrell would be succeeded as chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee by Rep. Dan Cooper of Piedmont. Cooper said Thursday he has commitments to vote for him from 18 of the panel's 25 members. The committee writes the state budget and its chairman also serves on the five-member state Budget and Control Board.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, an Orangeburg Democrat who has served in the House since 1992, said while Wilkins would be a "tough act to follow," she believes Harrell will do a good job.

"I think it's going to take him a bit of time to hit his stride like it did David," he said. "I think he'll be fair and balanced and work hard. He demonstrated that as chairman of Ways and Means."

Harrell was singled out last week by a spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford who said he had sided less with the governor in his vetoes than the leader of House Democrats. In response, Harrell said such remarks were the reason Sanford's office has had "so much difficulty getting things done."

Harrell said Thursday he hoped the relationship between the Legislature and the governor would improve.

"The House passed a large portion of his agenda last year and this year and I don't see any reason for that to change," he said. "I hope that we can open up the communication lines perhaps a little better."

Sanford said he has never "crossed swords" with Harrell and looked forward to working with him.

Not so with Tripp.

"I am taking a principled vote against an unprincipled leader - a leader who has personally threatened me with retribution in the budget on two occasions," Tripp said in a statement he asked to be made part of the House daily journal.

"My no vote on Bobby Harrell's election to speaker is a symbolic vote on behalf of all the people who were directly threatened or who feared retribution in this race for speaker."

Tripp said afterward he voted once against an airplane parts project bill for the Lowcountry and also against the budget on third reading. He alleged Harrell told him after both votes that, 'You'll never get anything in the budget."

Harrell denied making any threats to Tripp and also denied even talking to Tripp after the votes.

Much of Thursday's House celebration was reserved for Wilkins, who bade farewell to the chamber he led for almost 11 years and was a part of for 25 years.

"I have spent most of my adult life - a quarter of a century in this body - and it truly has been the privilege of a lifetime," he told a House packed with representatives, senators, legislative staff and Sanford. "I love this institution."

Wilkins said his call from the White House in March asking him to be ambassador was a sign from God. He said his decision to go north "is about as daring as it gets for Susan and me."

"We are both humbled and awed by the faith and trust President Bush has placed in us," he said. "We intend to make him - and all of you - proud."

Wilkins' voice halted as he neared the final lines of his speech, his emotions surfacing as he said goodbye.

"I salute you," he said. "I will miss all of you so very much."

Wilkins received several standing ovations from lawmakers. The Greenville delegation presented him with a resolution and another lawmaker presented him with a Canadian flag. One lawmaker paid a lighter tribute by posting a life-size cardboard cutout of Bush in the chamber.

Sanford called Wilkins a "first-class guy."

"When he looked you in the eye and said, 'We're going to get it done,' you could take that to the bank," he said. "That kind of certainty in the political realm is unusual. He will be missed."