SC Ethics Commission wants more watchdog staff

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The State Ethics Commission is seeking more help in its job overseeing most of the state’s elected officials.

The State newspaper reports (http://bit.ly/1Am8QvA ) Thursday that the commission in its 2014-15 fiscal year budget request is asking for more staff members to help with auditing the financial disclosures that every public official and candidate files regularly.

The agency wants $99,500 to hire two auditors and $147,000 to pay for two additional investigators. Executive director Herb Hayden says the commission currently employs no auditors.

During a meeting Wednesday, the commission also elected Greenville real estate attorney Jim Warren as its new chairman. Former chairman James Burns is Gov. Nikki Haley’s incoming chief of staff.

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Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com