News
Rex talking the talk of governor candidate
September 2, 2009
Jim Rex, state superintendent of education, says he'll make a decision soon about whether or not he'll make a bid to become South Carolina's next governor.
"I'm going to make a decision in two weeks," said Rex, who spoke in Orangeburg Tuesday in a town-hall-style meeting sponsored by the Peters Group, a motivational and youth training organization.
Rex, 67, said he is in the "exploring process" of seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010 to join the race to replace Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, who is limited by law to two terms.
"We like what that is showing us," Rex said.
Stephen Peters, CEO of the Peters Group, described Rex as "a servant of public education."
"We want to do all we can to allow ourselves to meet and get to know him in our city," Peters said. "It's a good opportunity to meet him up close and personal."
Rex said the needs of South Carolina's education system prompted him to consider a run for governor.
"I admit there's a lot of things I can't get at," Rex said, to improve the state's school system in his current position as superintendent. "You can't have a 21st century school system in a state that's stuck inside the early part of the 20th century."
Rex became the state's 16th education superintendent in January 2007. He has opposed vouchers that he says would take money out of the state's public school system.
Rex said he pushed for the stimulus money when that was debated with Sanford's office, in effect saving 500 jobs.
"We've done a lot of things in the face of the economic crisis," he said. "I was elected because a large number of independents and crossover Republicans decided it was time for a change."
While he's keen on improving education, Rex says his priority would be the economy and the rising jobless rate.
A former high school English teacher and football coach, Rex was the dean of education at Winthrop and Coastal Carolina universities. He also was a University of South Carolina vice president.
Fielding a question at the session, Rex said he would not seek re-election as superintendent in 2010 even if he is not a candidate for governor.
If he decides to make a run for governor, he'll join other Democrat gubernatorial candidates state Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden, state Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston, Columbia attorney and lobbyist Dwight Drake, Charleston lawyer Mullins McLeod and Charleston pastor Amos Elliott.
Those seeking the Republican nomination are U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, state Sen. Larry Grooms of Berkeley County and state Rep. Nikki Haley of Lexington.
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is expected to run for the Republican nomination although he has not yet announced his candidacy.
From thetandd.com
By RICHARD WALKER, T&D Staff Writer
T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.
