COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford on Thursday appointed John Rainey to serve as chairman of the state's chief economic advisory board.

The Board of Economic Advisors conducts revenue forecasting for the state and provides economic impact statements to the General Assembly for all proposed legislation.

Sanford said Rainey brings a vast amount of experience to the board.

"We need someone heading up our Board of Economic Advisors who has the character and integrity to shoot straight and tell things like they are," Sanford said. "In addition to his extensive business background and lifetime of service to South Carolina, John Rainey has those qualities in abundance."

Rainey, an attorney, serves as chairman of the board of Greenville-based Easlan Capital Inc., a real estate development firm.

He served as chairman of the state-owned utility, Santee Cooper, for a decade. From 1992 to 2000, Rainey served as chairman of the state Budget and Control Board's Energy Advisory Committee.

Rainey was chairman of the board of the Palmetto Economic Development Corp. from 1994 to 1998, and vice chairman of the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development from 1995 to 2000.

Rainey also is a director of the National Bank of South Carolina.