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Weathers named new ag commissioner

Gov. Mark Sanford has issued an executive order appointing Bowman dairy farmer Hugh Weathers as the state's agriculture commissioner.

Weathers will complete the two years remaining on the term of Charles Sharpe, who resigned as commissioner after pleading guilty in January to an extortion charge. He admitted in federal court he took a $10,000 bribe to protect a cockfighting organization from legal trouble.

Weathers was named by Sanford in September as the interim commissioner after Sharpe was indicted in July. Following Sharpe's guilty plea, the governor said he would discuss with Weathers a permanent appointment.

"The governor wanted to make sure Commissioner Weathers was interested in fulfilling the term and fortunately he was," Sanford spokesman Will Folks said Thursday evening. "He came in at a very difficult time in the history of this agency and he really distinguished himself. He's someone the governor has tremendous faith in."

"I think I'm doing some good," Weathers said, praising the personnel at the S.C. Department of Agriculture. He has a planning session with the governor scheduled for Monday.

Weathers expects some legislative disgruntlement to his being appointed in that Sanford has proposed a controversial constitutional change that would make the elected post permanently an appointed position.

Weathers is co-owner of Weathers Farms Inc., a 650-cow dairy operation in Bowman.