COLUMBIA -- South Carolina's former Republican governors offered advice Wednesday to new Gov. Nikki Haley, though none offered an easy way out of the state's nearly $1 billion budget crunch.
Outgoing Gov. Mark Sanford came the closest, saying the budget crisis presents an important opportunity.
Metro -- Former South Carolina governors Dr. James B. Edwards (from left), and his wife Ann, David Beasley and Jim Hodges come together in the Statehouse for the inauguration ceremonies in Columbia on Wednesday January 12, 2011. (Wade Spees/postandcourier.com)
Covering the politics of the Lowcountry, South Carolina and the nation.
"Churchill's adage was that the beauty of our political system was that it always did the right thing, after it had exhausted every other possible remedy," Sanford said. "You look at some of the tug-of-war over the past eight years, and to some extent, there has been some exhaustion of other possibilities.
"This year it's going to be real simple: You're either going to raise taxes or fees or you're going to cut government and you're going to restructure government. I am, frankly, very optimistic on the prospects for changes, whether it's on the spending front or the government restructuring front."
Former Gov. David Beasley, who served from 1995 to 1999, said his biggest advice for Haley is to remember that while she's now the state's new chief executive, she's still a mom.
"Governors come and go, but moms and dads are always," he said.
Beasley said if Haley remains strong and humble, she can allay any fears among lawmakers who might think she will be a contentious governor.
"If she will allay those concerns by meeting with them and letting them know that she wants to work with them for the good of South Carolina, that she's the governor and they're her friends, then there will be great successes," he said. "It shouldn't be a 'me versus them,' it needs to be what's good for South Carolina."
Former Gov. James Edwards said Haley's speech confirmed his belief that Haley will make a good governor. "I don't need to give her advice," said Edwards, who served from 1975 to 1979. "She's pretty solid."
Former first lady Jenny Sanford said she has talked with the Haleys about the office's demands on their time, which she said are "beyond what you would ever imagine."
"My personal hope is that she'll finish a lot of the things Mark Sanford started, a lot of things we've all been working hard for a long period of time," she said.
Mark Sanford said he will just be a phone call away whenever Haley wants to chat, but he won't be calling her.
"I think it's important for any of us as outgoing governors … never to micromanage from afar, never attempt to suggest," he said. "I had my turn at the helm. I had my eight years. It's now hers."
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