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Joint assembly elects university trustees; several seats filled by acclamation
Summary
The joint assembly met to elect trustees to state college and university boards. Multiple nominees were elected by acclamation; contested races produced roll-call results, including Donald Beatty's election to South Carolina State University and Richard Mark Benoit's election to the University of South Carolina board.
The joint assembly of the South Carolina General Assembly convened to elect members to boards of trustees for state colleges and universities. The College and University Trustees Screening Commission presented nominees for dozens of seats; many were approved by acclamation and several contested races were decided by roll call.
Representative J. Whitmire, chairman of the screening commission, announced nominees and guided the assembly through the procedure established by concurrent resolution (no nominating speeches; written seconds for any seconded nominations). Several seats were filled without opposition: James E. Nicholson Jr. was reelected to the Citadel Board of Visitors by acclamation; district and at-large seats at Coastal Carolina University, Lander University, Winthrop University and others were similarly filled or declared elected as announced from the floor.
Contested races were resolved by roll call. In the South Carolina State University Board election the joint assembly recorded a total of 150 votes, with Donald Beatty receiving 86 votes and Douglas M. Twitty 64; the chair declared Beatty duly elected. For the University of South Carolina board judicial-circuit seats, the joint assembly recorded totals (grand total 156) and declared Richard Mark Benoit duly elected after tabulation.
Representative Whitmire said the commission had screened nominees and certified qualifications before placing the slates for election. Several members of the assembly asked that particular contested slates be recommitted; those motions were subject to roll-call votes and failed in the instances noted. The session completed its slate of elections and the joint assembly adjourned its business to allow the Senate to resume separate proceedings.
The elections were procedural: the assembly declared winners and referred any necessary appointments or confirmations to the appropriate committees where required by statute. The transcript records the roll-call totals and the names declared elected on the floor.
