SC senators to consider gov’s choice to lead SLED

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina senators are scheduled to talk about Gov. Nikki Haley’s pick to lead the State Law Enforcement Division.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is set Wednesday to consider confirming SLED veteran Mark Keel.

Keel now runs the state Department of Public Safety.

He joined SLED in 1979 and worked his way through the agency’s ranks in a variety of roles. He served as its chief of staff in 2001 and then as the division’s interim chief when former chief Robert Stewart retired in 2007.

But then-Gov. Mark Sanford said he saw an opportunity to nominate a minority to serve as SLED chief and picked former U.S. Attorney Reggie Lloyd, who announced earlier this year that he would leave the post July 1.