Labor director says she’d bring legal eye to DHEC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The head of South Carolina’s labor agency says she’s become increasingly excited about the prospect of taking the helm of the state’s public health and environmental protection agency.

The board that oversees the Department of Health and Environmental Control this week picked labor lawyer Catherine Templeton to oversee its large, complex agency.

It would seem an odd move. And even Templeton said Friday she didn’t seek the job.

But she says the director doesn’t need to be a health or environmental expert because the agency has those.

Templeton says she fits the bill for someone who can coordinate DHEC’s myriad functions while making decisions based on the law.

Dana Beach of the Coastal Conservation League says he’s optimistic. He says he’s impressed with her focus on operational efficiencies.