The March 24 meeting of the Clarendon County Voter Registration and Elections (CCVRE) Board saw the swearing-in of three new members appointed by Governor Henry McMaster earlier that day, triggering an unexpected shift in leadership and a flurry of procedural questions — including concerns over whether the agenda changes were made in compliance with South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Brian Magaw, Michael Streath, and Andrea Killman were officially appointed to the board with the recommendation of the Clarendon County Legislative Delegation, according to a press release issued just before the 5:30 p.m. meeting. Magaw was sworn in by Clerk of Court Shanita Brangman in her office at 4:05 p.m. Streath and Killman were sworn in by The Honorable Percy Harvin shortly before the meeting began.
According to Director Christine Harvin, she received confirmation of the appointments around 3:50 p.m. that day from Rep. Fawn Pedalino, who said she had just been notified by the Governor’s Office herself. Pedalino confirmed that outgoing board members had not been notified by the state and that the new appointees requested to be sworn in that day so they could attend the meeting. Pedalino said the new members initiated the process to do so.
The short notice came as a surprise to existing board members, including then-Chairman Russell Miller, who was among those replaced along with Gregory Holliday. Neither Miller nor Holliday attended the meeting. Vice Chair Maggie Robertson called the meeting to order and led proceedings in Miller’s absence. Board member Rebecca Battle-Bryant was absent.
The new appointees were seated immediately, prompting a motion to amend the agenda to include the election of a new chair. However, the motion was ultimately tabled after concerns were raised by the new members about voting on leadership before becoming more familiar with board operations.
“I make a motion to table the election of chairman,” Killman said during discussion. The motion was seconded by Magaw and passed by voice vote. This went against guidance from the South Carolina State Election Commission (SCSEC), which had advised the election of a new chair should be the first order of business following new appointments.
The legality of the last-minute agenda changes — including both the swearing-in ceremony and the attempted addition of a chair election — has since been questioned. Under Section 30-4-80 of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, agendas for regular public meetings must be posted at least 24 hours in advance. Once posted, no items may be added without providing an additional 24-hour public notice. An item may only be added after the meeting begins with a two-thirds vote and a finding of an emergency or exigent circumstance, if it is the final vote on the matter. Neither the swearing-in nor the chair election appeared on the agenda posted in accordance with that timeline, and no such vote was held to justify the addition of the new members after the agenda was posted.
Patricia Pringle, Chair of the Clarendon County Democratic Party, voiced concerns about the amended agenda after the meeting. She also felt the lack of notice to outgoing members was “disrespectful,” particularly as they had continued to serve in holdover status beyond their terms.
Director Harvin gave her final report before her departure on March 31. She noted that polling locations were being surveyed for ADA compliance, as required by the SCSEC, and introduced Tiffany Smith as the new Area Representative for Clarendon County. Harvin also reminded board members of the March 30 deadline to submit their Statement of Economic Interest to the South Carolina Ethics Commission to avoid penalties.
She reported that 21 local students recently visited the office to participate in a mock election and emphasized the importance of ongoing voter education efforts.
The board entered executive session to review two applications for the Executive Director role. Upon return, members voted to extend the application period by five more weeks and stated their intention to repost the position on the county website, the SEC site, Facebook, and in print.
Harvin urged the board to appoint an interim director as soon as possible, citing the importance of having a direct point of contact with the SEC.
“We need someone the commission can send updates to immediately. Missing information could mean missed deadlines,” Harvin said.
Although the board acknowledged the need for an interim appointment, they stated the individual under consideration was not present and no action was taken.
Public comment during the meeting also touched on the ongoing legislative session, including House Bill 3459, which would require third-party voter registration groups to register with the state or face penalties. Several board members and community attendees voiced concern that the measure could suppress voter outreach.
The meeting concluded with Robertson apologizing for the last-minute changes and confusion.
“This is all new to me. I wasn’t informed until shortly before the meeting that Mr. Miller was no longer chair,” Robertson said. “It’s trial and error right now. Just bear with us.”
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for April. This is an ongoing story, and The Manning Times will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that board member Gregory Holliday was not in attendance at the March 24 meeting of the Clarendon County Voter Registration and Elections Board. Holliday was present and seated with the public, observing the meeting quietly. We regret the error and are committed to providing accurate and transparent reporting.
