Capitol Notebook is a new feature that appears on Sundays along with a tally of how the Lowcountry delegation voted on major legislation in the General Assembly.

COLUMBIA - In the Charleston legislative delegation that asserts itself as the pinnacle of power in South Carolina, it's easy to overlook those without flashy titles.

The designation of House Speaker adds zing to West Ashley Republican Bobby Harrell's name, just as Senate President Pro Tem heralds Charleston Republican Glenn McConnell.

Rep. Wallace Scarborough boasts only a subcommittee chairmanship and a vice chairmanship of the Charleston House delegation.

But now in his sixth year, the James Island Republican is taking his limited capital to the bank and getting much more in return.

The Citadel grad drew attention earlier this session by proposing a bill to allow prayer at his alma mater and earned kudos for working with McConnell to shepherd through legislation that would help a town form on James Island.

"I've been in the General Assembly long enough that I've got some seniority, and I've worked with people long enough to establish relationships," said Scarborough, who is a vice president at a life insurance company. "I'm at the point ... where it's time to start stretching my wings a little bit and see if I can be one of those people in a leadership position."

Even more, he's playing a key role in three of the top legislative issues this session. Last month, he authored a change to the charter school bill widely known as the "Scarborough Amendment," which protects charter schools from losing state funding.

Last week, he stepped up twice, adding a provision to the workers' compensation bill to make sure it produces lower rates for businesses and championing the fight to remove potentially costly regulatory takings language from the eminent domain legislation.

Scarborough's efforts aren't universally applauded, though. Rep. Harry Cato, R-Travlers Rest and chairman of the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, called Scarborough's workers' compensation amendment a "poison pill." And the House voted to keep regulatory takings in the statutory eminent domain bill despite his objections.

Scarborough took control of the District 115 post after knocking off three-term incumbent Lynn Seithel in the 2000 Republican primary. Backed by leading Charleston Republicans such as Harrell and Rep. Chip Limehouse, Scarborough squeaked through, taking 51 percent of the vote to Seithel's 49 percent.

His first five years in the House were relatively quiet. But to hear Scarborough tell it, this was all part of his master strategy.

"A lot of people try to grab power all at once," he said. "I haven't done that. I've sat back and waited for my time."

It certainly wasn't for lack of ambition. Scarborough is looking to move up, and he has the allies to help. He calls the speaker his best friend. Harrell's voice even greets callers on the voice mail of Scarborough's cell phone.

"He's becoming more of a leader the longer he's been here," Harrell said of his friend. "He's built strong relationships, and that is what it takes to accomplish things here."

But still he's a mid-level lawmaker in a delegation loaded with heavy hitters. The Lowcountry boasts five of the top positions in the House and three in the Senate, not to mention Gov. Mark Sanford. Scarborough will get a minor upgrade in the ranks when he replaces outgoing Charleston Republican John Graham Altman next year as the Charleston House delegation chairman.

House Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, sees that move as a sign of things to come.

"We have a lot of characters in the Charleston delegation," he said. "Certainly I think other folks in the delegation are going to be more visible and vocal."

And already, it seems Scarborough is stepping up. "When I need votes, Wallace is one of the first ones I go to," Merrill said.

John Frank covers the Legislature and state politics in Columbia. Reach him at (803) 799-9051 or jbfrank@postandcourier.com.