Let's continue the process of restructuring state government

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Guest column • : Changing seasons reflected in landscape of children (03/13/05) • Rep. David H. Wilkins: Sunlight helps democracy grow (03/13/05) • David Shi: Townes remains true believer in science and religion (03/13/05) • Mike Campbell: Let's continue the process of restructuring state government (03/11/05) • Rosemary Fay: Good sportsmanship shows on and off the field (03/11/05) More details Mike Campbell, a Columbia businessman who was born in Greenville, is a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. For more information, go to http://www.campbell2006.com/.

In that year, Dad began the process of revamping our state government because he knew it simply did not work. It was a century-old system that bore no resemblance to the challenges of modern South Carolina.

A maze of agency directors, elected by no one and accountable to no elected official, pretty much did what they wanted, when they wanted and how they wanted. The governor, elected by all the people to run state government, had little control because they didn't report to him.

But Dad succeeded in working with the General Assembly to streamline 79 independent state agencies into 13 cabinet level agencies.

This was not done to strengthen the Office of the Governor just for the sake of a stronger executive branch, as some opponents of restructuring attempt to claim. My father began this process because the citizens of our state deserve a government that has the capacity to efficiently address their concerns and be accountable for its decisions.

While he made significant strides toward providing the type of government that our state deserves, he never envisioned that his work was complete. He saw it as the beginning of a process to revamp government.

Indeed, the finished product in 1993 fell short of recommendations made by a blue-ribbon panel, whose vision for restructuring far exceeded what was accomplished.

Our current structure of government breeds bureaucracy, lethargy and arrogance. With multiple state agencies that constantly overlap each other and separately elected constitutional officers who can follow their own agenda, our state government needs to put additional pieces of restructuring in place.

Gov. Sanford and the General Assembly have taken the first steps towards completing what my father started. I praise them for their efforts thus far and urge them to continue fighting for what is best for our state — a government with increased efficiency, accountability and less bureaucracy.

One example of government waste is the Office of the Lieutenant Governor — the most underutilized office in our state government. If restructured, our lieutenant governor could play a very beneficial role by working with the governor, rather than just serving as a "gavel banger" in the Senate.

Currently, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor is primarily ceremonial. Although the lieutenant governor is suppose to take over the executive branch in the absence of the governor, currently, the lieutenant governor is in no way prepared to assume that responsibility. It is a part-time position that produces part-time results. Quite simply, it is an unacceptable use of a constitutional office and tax dollars.

It doesn't have to be this way — we can do better. The lieutenant governor should be an official with the ability to make significant contributions.

I agree with Gov. Sanford that the governor and lieutenant governor should run on the same ticket, just as the president and vice president. Imagine if the president and vice president were of different parties or had different agendas, it would be almost impossible to accomplish anything. The lieutenant governor's office can best serve our state by being more of an extension of the governor's office, allowing for a unified approach to addressing the needs of constituents.

Phase 2 of restructuring will see improved accountability, efficiency and use of tax dollars.

The people of South Carolina deserve a government that is responsive to their needs and careful with their tax dollars. At the very least they deserve to be given the chance to vote on the issue so their voices can be heard.