The rule barring family members of legislators from serving was written, in part, to address the nomination of candidates such as Dick Richardson, husband of state Rep. Becky Richardson of Fort Mill. Richardson had no college degree or experience in the regulatory field; his primary qualification was his spouse.

He was not the only candidate with ties to elected officials. Other candidates included John Drummond, son of longtime Sen. John Drummond, D-Ninety Six; and Dan Hamilton, son of Rep. Glenn Hamilton, R-Taylors, and an aide to 4th District U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint. One incumbent on the panel was Mignon Clyburn, daughter of 6th District U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., and another was James Atkins, son-in-law of Sen. Ed Saleeby, D-Darlington.

Rep. Richardson fared better at the political trough than did her husband. She was appointed last week to the Employment Security Commission. While she has held elective office for nearly two decades, including a stint on the Fort Mill Town Council and 13 years in the state House of Representatives, she brings no special qualifications to the ESC, whose three members hear appeals from workers denied unemployment benefits.

But it's not as if Rep. Richardson's appointment was out of the ordinary. There are no requirements for experience relating to the duties of the ESC. Candidates are simply elected by the Legislature. In fact, the only other candidate for the seat that went to Richardson also was a legislator.

Legislators obviously have an inside track. Another local lawmaker, former Rep. Sam Foster, a Rock Hill Democrat, served on the ESC from 1992 until 2000.

The desire for such a plum appointment is understandable. Legislators receive a token salary of $10,400 a year; members of the ESC are paid $97,000 a year.

It is ironic that during the same year that the Legislature is applauding itself for reforming the selection process for the PSC, it settles for business as usual on the ESC. If one was in need of reform, so was the other.

Two years ago, election of new members to the PSC were postponed until changes in the process could be made. That would not be a bad idea for the ESC as well.

The General Assembly should adopt a list of specific qualifications for prospective members of the panel. And the process should be opened up to allow qualified candidates from the private sector to be considered. If legislators want a job on the ESC, let them sit wait for four years after they leave office, like members of the PSC.

We think it is likely that Richardson is competent enough to serve on this commission. But we also think the selection process is inadequate and fraught with the same nepotism as that of the PSC before lawmakers changed the rules.

The state should give the same going-over to a system that amounts to providing a cushy retirement plan for lucky legislators.

Selection process for Employment Security Commission should be reformed.