Candidate thinks voters shouldn’t choose leader

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – The Democratic challenger for South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner says he doesn’t think the post should be an elected office and says he’d work to make it an appointed position if he wins.

Thomas Elliott is an 81-year-old former state lawmaker from Richland County who is taking on Republican Hugh Weathers. Weathers was appointed to the post in 2004 to fill the term of the indicted commissioner. He was elected to a four-year term in 2006.

Elliott says it made sense to elect the agriculture commissioner when farmers made up a larger percentage of South Carolina’s work force. Now, he says the job needs technical expertise better found in someone with an academic background.

Weathers says how the position is filled doesn’t matter.

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