Rose remains Public Safety director on interim basis

COLUMBIA - Boykin Rose is continuing to run the Public Safety Department on an interim basis at the request of Gov. Mark Sanford, who criticized Rose's leadership during the 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

Rose's four-year term concluded last weekend.

Sanford asked Rose on Friday to serve as acting director until a replacement is appointed, Sanford's spokesman Will Folks said Monday.

"The governor had several conversations with Director Rose last week," Folks said. "We expect to make an announcement soon regarding a permanent replacement."

Folks would not say who is being considered for the post or explain why Sanford had not selected a replacement before Rose's term ended.

Rose was unavailable to comment Monday, according to spokesman Sid Gaulden.

During a gubernatorial debate in the 2002 campaign, Sanford said it was "a waste of human life" that so many people were forced to stand in line for hours at Division of Motor Vehicle offices, then under Rose's control.