News and Press Releases for November 2006

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11/22/2006

One Cabinet Director, One Board Chair Departing Administration

Department of Social Services Director, DHEC Chairwoman LEaving After First-Term Tenures

Columbia, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford today announced the departure of two top-level administration officials, and thanked them for their time serving the people of South Carolina through his administration.

Department of Social Services Director Kim Aydlette and Department of Health and Environmental Control Chairwoman Elizabeth Hagood are each leaving after serving in the Sanford Administration since 2003. During her tenure, Aydlette was responsible for leading DSS through one of the agency's most challenging times, as they lost more than 1,300 employees due to budget cuts over roughly three years. Despite those challenges, DSS increased its yearly adoptions by roughly 30 percent, achieving its federal adoption goals both last year and this year for the first time ever. At DHEC, Hagood has focused on quality of life issues, particularly as it relates to development along the coast. Hagood provided invaluable service on the governor's Water Law Review Committee as well, which led to the formation of a task force currently in negotiations with Georgia over Savannah River resources.

Aydlette's departure will be effective Dec. 31, 2006, while Hagood's will become effective on Dec. 1. Over the coming weeks, Gov. Sanford will begin looking for successors for both positions to begin the Senate confirmation process in the coming legislative session.

"I can't say enough good things about the jobs Kim and Elizabeth have done at their respective agencies," Gov. Sanford said. "We all know that we're only given so much time and we certainly understand that they feel it's time to move on to the next chapter in their lives. I want to personally thank them for the jobs they've done, and wish them the best of luck going forward."