State needs to sell surplus and outdated properties, Haley says

Seanna Adcox

https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2015/12/10/state-needs-sell-surplus-and-outdated-properties-haley-says/14344604007/

COLUMBIA - Gov. Nikki Ha­ley said Wednesday that the state needs to sell its "money pits," starting with eight properties that include the state Education Depart­ment's administration building.

Selling the properties identified so far would enable taxpayers to avoid spending$30 million on maintenance and other expenses over five years, according to a report by a real estate firm hired to assess the state's inventory. The figure is not a direct savings. Haley said she envisions profits going into a fund to lease new and renovate existing office space, to eventually save taxpayers money in future administrations.

The report documents7,800 public buildings, including college property, on2,500 parcels of land. Real estate firm CBRE has so far visited222 sites. While the assessment work continues, Haley said the report lays out her plan for managing the state's real estate.

"We don't need to own this much space," she said. "I want this property out the door."

Haley said it's also a quality-of-life issue. Employees can't love their jobs if they go to offices that haven't been updated in decades, stink and might even be making them sick, she said.

Superintendent Molly Spearman said her agency welcomes the idea of moving, as its location doesn't provide adequate meeting space or parking.

Other recommendations in the report include shrinking the square footage employees occupy. Renovating four buildings using new "space standards" would save an estimated$32 million over30 years, according to the report.

The report stems from questions Haley began asking when she came into office in2011, as she sought a tally of state property.

After continued resistance, she issued an executive order in October2013 directing her16 Cabinet agencies to provide an accounting and identify surpluses. Other agencies participated voluntarily. CBRE was hired after a preliminary inventory was released in April2014.

At the time, Haley applauded the Department of Employ­ment and Workforce for putting10 vacant offices up for sale.

On Wednesday, the agency said it sold four properties in thepast fiscal year for a$5 million profit and has 13 other facilities and two pieces of land up for sale. Across state government, about50 pieces of surplus property are listed for sale by the Department of Administration, with listings dating back to2004.

Agency Director Marcia Adams said recommended changes in the state's cumbersome sales process should enable the state to get rid of more property faster.

Commentary: Never underestimate Nikki Haley. I did, and I got trounced.

By Gresham Barrett

Jan 3, 2024

https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/commentary-never-underestimate-nikki-haley-i-did-and-i-got-trounced/article_85de04bc-a694-11ee-80b1-4b0ff720b1a5.html

Donald Trump is going to lose in South Carolina — to Nikki Haley.

I say that as someone who lost in South Carolina — to Nikki Haley.

The year was 2010. I’d thrown my hat into the ring for governor. It was a big field with several well-known Republicans running, but Nikki Haley — then a state representative from Lexington — wasn’t on anyone’s likely winner list.

We were wrong. We underestimated Nikki Haley — just like people did when she ran against a 30-year Republican incumbent for the state Legislature, and just like her opponents have been underestimating her in the current presidential campaign. She didn’t let the naysayers get to her. She put her head down and went to work. She is one of the hardest working candidates I have ever met.

Haley is principled, persuasive and plain-spoken. She tells hard truths, answers hard questions and takes on the hardest fights — the fights that matter most to the people of South Carolina. In our race, it was transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility. Haley owned those issues, and she broke down complicated spending topics in simple, everyday terms.

In the end, Nikki Haley was both the immovable object and an unstoppable force. She came from way behind, and in the final months leading up to the primary, her momentum grew — and grew some more, just like it’s doing now. She ended up winning the runoff with 65% of the vote, and a few months later, the people of South Carolina elected her governor.

Although it stung at the time, I can now say I’m glad Nikki Haley won. She was the right leader for our state, transforming our economy and uniting us in difficult times. Now she’s the right person for America.

First, she has to get through the candidate many people assume is going to win the S.C. primary: Donald Trump.

Trump should be afraid. History is repeating itself.

Haley is doing the same thing she did in 2010. She’s showing up and proving she’s the hardest worker of the bunch. She jumped into the race early because she didn’t need to wait and see what the other candidates decided, and right after she announced, she hit the campaign trail in New Hampshire and Iowa, holding town halls and answering voters’ questions. She didn’t get distracted by the media’s narrative or the latest fights on social media.

Her message is principled and strong. She hasn’t wavered in her support of our allies or backed away from criticizing Republicans — including Donald Trump — for adding $8 trillion to the national debt in just four years: nearly as much as Barack Obama added in eight years. The irresponsible spending played a role in the runaway inflation that’s still crippling families, and it’s holding us back at the exact time we need to move forward to hold China accountable.

Trump is taking South Carolina for granted, and Nikki Haley is taking South Carolina seriously, like she always has. She led our state in a better direction for six years. She stood with South Carolinians during our best and worst moments, and now she will lead our country toward a brighter future. I couldn’t be more honored to support her for president.

All she has to do is beat Trump in the primaries, especially South Carolina’s on Feb. 24. After that, she’s a shoo-in against the failed Joe Biden in November, while Donald Trump is not.

Can she get that far? Of course she can. Take it from someone who learned the lesson the hard way: Never underestimate Nikki Haley — even against Donald Trump.

Gresham Barrett represented South Carolina’s 3rd congressional district from 2003 to 2011 and ran for governor in 2010.

Mike Pence says ‘US needs new leadership’ to bring country together

Rhys Jones

Sun, January 7, 2024 at 6:31 AM EST

https://news.yahoo.com/mike-pence-says-us-needs-113114818.html

Mike Pence said that the American people need “new leadership,” as campaigning for the 2024 election begins.

The former US vice president spoke to Sky News on Sunday, 7 January, saying that the US is “open to new leadership.”

“We need new leadership, and we need leadership that can bring our country together and move us forward,” Mr Pence said.

He added: “I continue to be hopeful that our party will give the American people the opportunity for a new beginning.”