Sanford replaces Infrastructure Bank's top exec

Champ Covington. Staff/George W. Gardner e-mail this story

Another Greenville businessman, Tee Hooper, was tapped by Sanford to be chairman of the Department of Transportation Commission, the group charged with operating the state's highway system. Hooper will serve as a non-voting member of the Infrastructure Bank.

"It is regrettable that we lost the chairmanship," said House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville. "But both of my appointments to the Infrastructure Bank are from the Upstate."

Covington's influence was critical most recently in getting $12 million for roads in Clemson's proposed International Automotive Research Park and also helped develop the Southern Connector.

"He (Sanford) indicated to me that he probably would remove me, and he did," Covington said. "I'm sorry to be leaving the bank board. I'm very proud of what it has done."

The loss of Covington means more erosion for political clout for the Upstate, legislators said. Rep. Lewis Vaughn, R-Greenville, called most of Sanford's political appointments "disappointing" and said he was surprised, since support from the Upstate pushed Sanford, a Republican, over the top in last November's election.

Another major economic position in Sanford's administration also went to a Lowcountry businessman. In December, Sanford appointed Bob Faith, from Charleston, as director of the Commerce Department.

"Our political clout with this governor is gone," Vaughn said. "Since the election, Greenville has been overlooked, period. That will come home to roost at the proper time."

More than 87 percent of Sanford's margin of victory over Democrat Jim Hodges came from the Upstate counties of Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg.

Republican Gov. David Beasley in 1997 appointed Covington as the first chairman of the Infrastructure Bank, which sets priorities for spending bond money for several major road projects, including the Southern Connector. Covington will be replaced by Don Leonard from Myrtle Beach, president of Leonard, Call & Associates. Covington said all of the objectives of the Infrastructure Bank have been met.

Joan Peters, former executive director of the Southern Connector said the Infrastructure Bank is a valuable asset for state development.

"I'm sorry to hear Champ is gone because he has been a very effective leader in that position," she said. "As a testament to that fact, he served under Democratic and Republican governors."

"Whenever we let politics get involved with people who are good at what they do, we all lose," she said.

Sanford spokesman Will Folks said the governor is a "big believer in term limits" and said it "was important to have new blood in appointed and elected positions."

Bill Workman, former Republican mayor of Greenville and chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation, said since most of the Infrastructure Bank's money has been committed, he didn't think it would hurt development in Greenville.

"Sanford has been very good at talking the good game about not being regional," Workman said. "I would like to see some folks involved with the Sanford administration somewhere."

Leonard had nothing but words of praise for Covington, but said he was not familiar enough with any of the issues before the Infrastructure Bank to comment further.

"Anytime we don't have people on boards and commissions that are important positions, it takes away from the influence of the Upstate," said Anderson Republican Rep. Ronny Townsend. Townsend serves on the Infrastructure Bank as a Wilkins appointee.

Covington supported Hodges in the 2002 election, which Covington said was no more than supporting his boss. He supported Beasley in the 1998 election, and Hodges won.

"Governor Sanford probably thought if I supported him, he'd lose," Covington joked.

Rep. Tom Keegan, a member of the Horry County delegation, called the appointment of Leonard "a real positive for South Carolina as well as the Grand Strand."

The position of infrastructure bank chairman serves at the pleasure of the governor.

Hooper is the first person from the Upstate to be chosen to lead DOT. Other than education and health care, DOT is the state's largest agency in terms of dollars spent at roughly $800 million annually.

Hooper is the president and CEO of Profitlab, Inc., and the former regional president of IKON Office Solutions. Hooper attended The Citadel.

Sanford said he appointed Hooper because of the "real infrastructure needs along the I-85 corridor" and the fact that Sanford was looking for a businessman's perspective.

"I have known Tee Hooper practically all my life and he has always been a person I've admired," Wilkins said.

However, Hooper was not the first person recommended by Greenville's Legislative Delegation for the DOT job. Wilkins said the delegation sent a letter to Sanford recommending Howell Clyborne, the 4th District's current transportation commissioner.

Nevertheless, Wilkins called Hooper's nomination "superb" and said he has "impeccable character." Hooper donated money to Sanford's gubernatorial campaign last year.

— Jason Zacher can be reached at 298-4272.