Gov. Nikki Haley Signs H.3540 – Gubernatorial Appointment Of The Adjutant General
June 3, 2014
COLUMBIA, SC – Governor Nikki Haley was today joined by Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr., South Carolina’s Adjutant General, and members of the General Assembly in signing House Bill 3540. The bill provides the qualifications and processes the governor will use to appoint the Adjutant General, once the voters approve of the constitutional amendment by public referendum, during the General Election on November 4.
“We never get tired of restructuring our government and bringing it into the 21st century and that is what we have done again today,” said Gov. Haley. “General Livingston and I have had a tremendous partnership – he is a great leader that has done great things for our National Guard and we wouldn’t be here today without him. To know that we will have someone of his caliber appointed, rather than having to take a chance in an election, is an extremely important step forward for the people of South Carolina.”
South Carolina’s governor would begin appointing the Adjutant General in 2018. It marks the third major government restructuring during Gov. Haley’s administration, including the creation of the Department of Administration and directing that the lieutenant governor will be elected on the same ticket as the governor beginning in 2018.
“I am pleased the voters of South Carolina will be able to decide if they want to continue to elect the head of their Military Department, The Adjutant General, who could be someone with potentially no qualifications, or if they want to implement government reform that allows the Governor with advice and consent of the Senate to select the Adjutant General with a very strict set of military qualifications,” said Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr. “Currently,South Carolina is the only state that continues to popularly elect the head of its Military Department. This choice for the voters was the result of hard work by the legislature, the administration and the National Guard. I am sure the voters will choose wisely.”
