Daily Journal: Sandifer elected assistant majority leader of State House
By Greg Oliver, newsed@dailyjm.com
COLUMBIA – State Rep. Bill Sandifer (R – Oconee), who has received numerous honors during his eight years in the state legislature, received perhaps his biggest one when elected this week as Assistant Majority Leader of the South Carolina House Republican Caucus.
Sandifer was among three officers elected to serve for the 2003 legislative session, joining Rep. Rick Quinn (House District 71 – Richland County), who was elected as majority leader; and Rep. Adam Taylor (House District 16 – Laurens County), who was elected secretary-treasurer.
“It’s a huge honor for me to be elected by my colleagues for this positon of leadership,” said Sandifer. “It allows me to have more of a say than I ever had before in setting priority for the caucus and in setting the agenda.”
The House Republican Caucus has 73 members and is the majority party of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Sandifer said he will meet with other caucus officers and the Speaker of the House to set the agenda for the upcoming legislative session.
“I will also conduct meetings in the caucus during the absence of the majority leader and will conduct more of the business of the caucus,” he said.
The Majority Leader leads the House Republican Caucus and serves as floor leader for the Republicans. As Assistanct Majority Leader, Sandifer would be in line for the top position if and when Quinn leaves the legislature.
Sandifer, who is presently in Columbia taking part in an organizational session, said the election of officers has been one of the highlights of this week. However, he said other issues, some even humorous, are being addressed.
“One of the things we have to do is choose where we’re going to sit on the floor,” Sandifer said.
Sandifer, a Seneca resident, has served in the state House of Representatives since 1994 and recently won re-election to another four-year term.