South Carolina's Democratic Party leader called Wednesday for a bipartisan panel of seasoned industry hunters to bolster the state's efforts, but Republican Gov. Mark Sanford's office said that would return politics to the process.

"Clearly Gov. Sanford's method isn't getting the job done," said Joe Erwin, Democratic Party chairman and a Greenville advertising executive. "It's time for him to reach out to people who have actually been successful in bringing jobs and industry to this state.

Chris Drummond, Sanford's spokesman, expressed disappointment that Erwin "is trying to put politics back into economic development. The governor and the Commerce Department have focused on taking politics out of economic development."

Drummond cited Sanford's Council on Competitiveness, describing it as "a broad-based, nonpartisan approach focusing on enhancing what we do well in different parts of the state by growing the economy within clusters."

A group of disenchanted Republican business leaders is seeking to recruit a candidate to challenge Sanford in next year's GOP primary.

Also, Sanford has been criticized recently by several Republican U.S. House members for failing to reach out and coordinate state and federal efforts to improve South Carolina's economy.

Amid the criticism, administration aides have cited Commerce figures showing 13,491 jobs created in 2004, the best showing in four years, with those jobs paying 31 percent more than the state's per capita income.

They also said Sanford was instrumental in landing Vought Aircraft Industries, a $566 million investment in an aircraft fuselage plant that will produce 654 jobs, and in winning legislative approval of an income-tax cut for small businesses, and tort reform.

Vaught's CEO Tom Risley wrote in an op-ed column this week that when Sanford says economic development is his primary focus, he "really means it. His actions speak louder than words."He said Sanford's "keen focus on economic development and active recruiting efforts were key factors in our decision to choose this state."

Erwin suggested that the panel consist of former state Department of Commerce leaders and officials from previous administrations.

"They are the kind of people who know how to win; they know the tricks of the trade, and can help train Gov. Sanford so that hopefully, we can start bringing jobs here," Erwin said.

Katon Dawson, Erwin's Republican counterpart, asked if "Democrats are next going to ask our legislative leaders to step down because they think they can do a better job? Obviously the voters don't, especially in the last two elections."

Erwin even had some recommendations, including retired banker-ambassador Robert Royall who has said he's considering the dissident group's overtures to take on Sanford. Royall, the former chairman of NBSC, was secretary of commerce under Gov. David Beasley.

Others suggested by Erwin are:

Warren Tompkins, a Republican political consultant and lobbyist who was Gov. Carroll Campbell's first-term chief of staff and played a role in luring BMW to the Upstate; Dwight Drake, a lobbyist and top aide to Democratic Gov. Dick Riley; George Wolfe, a Republican lobbyist, and Charlie Way, Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges' commerce secretary.

Royall is the potential Sanford challenger, having told the group he will consider running.

"Apparently Mr. Erwin has a fascination with well-heeled lobbyists," Drummond said.