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Senate panel recommends removing Comptroller General Eckstrom from office

SC Comptroler General William Eckstrom
SC Comptroler General William Eckstrom

In an un-precedented move Wednesday, March 15, a special committee of the State Senate recommended that the General Assembly remove from office Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom for "willful neglect" of duty.

Lawmakers investigating the South Carolina comptroller general’s $3.5 billion accounting error are moving to gut the office deemed responsible in one of the minority of states that elects someone to the position. The Senate Finance Constitutional Subcommittee concluded that Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom failed to perform his duties in accordance with South Carolina law. Lawmakers said he should be removed from office. The panel recommended the state comptroller’s office be dismantled, and its duties transferred to another agency.

Russ McKinney has 30 years of experience in radio news and public affairs. He is a former broadcast news reporter in Spartanburg, Columbia and Atlanta. He served as Press Secretary to former S.C. Governor Dick Riley for two terms, and for 20 years was the chief public affairs officer for the University of South Carolina.