Rarely does the public ever learn of areas in state government where they can offer their time and talents. Usually you have to “know someone” or know who to ask or where to look.
Hopefully we have people in our state willing and able to serve on the Department of Transportation Commission. This is one of the most important commissions in our state and we need a pool of very qualified individuals to consider.
I enjoyed my time on this very prestigious screening committee before being unceremoniously removed last year; but that’s old news now. Want I want us to focus on is getting good people to continue to do good work with our state’s infrastructure needs.
Three seats on the S.C. Department of Transportation Commission will become vacant in February of 2010. A vacancy will exist in the Second, Fourth and Sixth Congressional District seats.
Pursuant to Act 114 of 2007, the Joint Transportation Review Committee is now accepting notice of intent from interested persons who intend to apply. Remember that Section 57-1-330 (A) stipulates, “For the purposes of electing a commission member, a legislator shall vote only in the congressional district in which he resides.”
Those interested must meet eligibility requirements and possess certain qualifications (see below) in order to serve.
Each term of office begins February 15, 2010 and expires February 15, 2014.
To receive application materials, prospective candidates living within these districts must notify the Committee in writing of their intent to apply before the Thursday, December 3, 2009 deadline.
The notice must include the person’s home address.
Notice and questions related to the screening process should be sent to:
David Owens
Joint Transportation Review Committee
P.O. Box 142
Columbia, S.C. 29202
803-212-6400
More information is available at www.scstatehouse.gov under ‘Citizens’ Interest’, then ‘Joint Transportation Review Committee’ (or better yet, click here ). Notice of intent will not be accepted after 12:00 noon on Thursday, December 3, 2009.
Joint Transportation Review Committee
SENATOR LAWRENCE K. GROOMS
Chairman
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES H. LUCAS
Vice Chairman
SENATOR HUGH K. LEATHERMAN, SR.
SENATOR GLENN F. MCCONNELL
SENATOR HARVEY S. PEELER
SENATOR GERALD MALLOY
REPRESENTATIVE ANNETTE D. YOUNG
REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP D. OWENS
MR. REID BANKS
MR. PATTERSON SMITH
POST OFFICE BOX 142
COLUMBIA. SOUTH CAROLINA 29202-0142
(803) 212-6400
Section 57-1-310.
(A) The congressional districts of this State are constituted and created Department of Transportation Districts of the State, designated by numbers corresponding to the numbers of the respective congressional districts. The Commission of the Department of Transportation shall be composed of one member from each transportation district elected by the delegations of the congressional district and one member appointed by the Governor from the State at large. Such elections or appointment, as the case may be, shall take into account race and gender so as to represent, to the greatest extent possible, all segments of the population of the State; however, consideration of these factors in making an appointment or in an election in no way creates a cause of action or basis for an employee grievance for a person appointed or elected or for a person who fails to be appointed or elected.
(B)(1) Candidates for election to the commission must be screened by the Joint Transportation Review Committee, as provided in Article 7 of this chapter, and determined to meet the qualifications contained in subsection (C) in order to be eligible for election.
(2) The at-large appointment made by the Governor must be transmitted to the Joint Transportation Review Committee. The Joint Transportation Review Committee must determine whether the at-large appointee meets the qualifications in subsection (C) and report its findings to the General Assembly and the Governor. Until the Joint Transportation Review Committee finds a gubernatorial appointee qualified, the appointee must not take the oath of office and the full rights and privileges and powers of the office shall not vest.
(C) The qualifications that each commission member must possess, include, but are not limited to:
(1) a baccalaureate or more advanced degree from:
(a) a recognized institution of higher learning requiring face-to-face contact between its students and instructors prior to completion of the academic program;
(b) an institution of higher learning that has been accredited by a regional or national accrediting body; or
(c) an institution of higher learning chartered before 1962; or
(2) a background of at least five years in any combination of the following fields of expertise:
(a) transportation;
(b) construction;
(c) finance;
(d) law;
(e) environmental issues;
(f) management; or
(g) engineering.