Mike Campbell, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor, showed his strength today by announcing his Campaign Finance Chairmen and initial Campaign Finance Committee.  These 43 statewide business leaders are the first of 100 names to be released that will help guide Campbell to victory in 2006.

Robert Royall, Former South Carolina Secretary of Commerce, Mack Whittle, Chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Paula Harper Bethea, Former Chairman of the South Chamber of Commerce will spearhead the Campbell effort. 

“We have put together an impressive group of business leaders who are all devoted to helping Mike,” Bethea commented.  “The business community in South Carolina is excited about Mike’s dedication to economic development and will raise enough money to fully fund his campaign.”

“These leaders are not just fundraisers; they are my economic advisors.  Currently, the Office of Lt. Governor is a wasted position that could help with economic development in our state,” Campbell stated.  “During my tenure as Lt. Governor, these professionals will work with me to develop policy that will put our state back on track toward true economic prosperity.”

Campbell’s Finance Committee also includes four of his fellow members of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Governing Board, symbolizing Mike’s belief that we must protect our environment in the wake of new growth.  “Mike believes that we can produce economic growth by recruiting new business to our state, but while doing so, we must protect our most precious asset – our natural resources, which enhance our everyday lives here in South Carolina.” said Mike McShane, Chairman of the SC DNR Board.

Chairmen of the Campbell Finance Committee

Paula Harper Bethea of Hilton Head, Former Chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

Robert Royall of Berkeley County, Former South Carolina Secretary of Commerce, Former President of NBSC, Former United States Ambassador to Tanzania

Mack Whittle of Greenville, Chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, President of South Financial Group, Chairman and CEO of Carolina First Bank

Campbell Finance Committee

Richard Ashmore of Greer, CEO of Ashmore Brothers

Dan Avant of Charleston County, Chairman and CEO of NAI Avant

Carlyle Blakeney of Charleston, President of Palmetto Commercial Properties

Tim Brett of Greenville, President of Brett Public Relations

Peter Brown of Columbia, Vice President of Colite International, Ltd.

Egerton Burroughs of Horry County, Chairman of Burroughs and Chapin

Harry Butler of Georgetown County, Chairman of the South Carolina Ports Authority & President of Butler Properties

Carroll A. Campbell, III of Columbia, businessman & Member of the South Carolina Ports Authority

Richard H. Coen of Charleston County, Member/Manager of Coen Capital, LLC

Clarence Davis of Columbia, Partner at Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough, LLP

Stephen Davis of Greenwood, Vice President of Davis & Floyd, Inc. & Member of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Governing Board

Joe Edens, Jr. of Columbia, Chairman of the Board of Edens and Avant Commercial Properties

John Evans of Orangeburg, President and CEO of C.F. Evans and Company & Member of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Governing Board

Karen Floyd of Spartanburg, CEO of The Palladian Group & Member of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Governing Board

Jimmy Gibbs of Spartanburg, President and CEO of Gibbs International

Leon Goodall of Columbia, Chairman of Continental Insurance Company

Henry Harrison of Greenville County, CEO of American Security

George Dean Johnson of Spartanburg, CEO of Johnson Development

Nickey Maxey of Hilton Head, CEO of TelSouth Communications

Tom Marchant of Greenville County, President of Tom Marchant Associates

Bob McAlister of Columbia, Former Chief of Staff for Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. & President of McAlister Communications

Smythe McKissick of Greenville County, President and CEO of Alice Manufacturing

Mike McShane of Charleston County, Chairman of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Governing Board

Tommy Miller of Spartanburg, President of Palmetto Development

Billy Morris of Florence, Managing Partner of Godley Morris Group, LLC

John Napier of Georgetown County, Attorney & Former United States Congressman

Sheila Ogletree of Hilton Head, CPA at Cherry, Beksly & Holland

Mark O’Rourke of Greenville, Physician at the Cancer Center of the Carolinas

Artie Perry of Berkeley County, President of Preferred Sourcing

David Posek of Greenville, Senior Consultant for Lockheed Martin

John Rainey of Columbia, Chairman of Easlan Capital, Inc

Hank Ramella of Spartanburg, CEO of Spartan Mills

Minor Mickel Shaw of Greenville, President of MICCO Corp.

Lewis Smoak of Greenville, Partner at Ogletree, Smoak & Nash

Don Tomlin of Columbia, CEO of Tomlin & Company, Inc

Bryson Thomason of Greenville, President of Professional Mortgage Company

William Worthy of Spartanburg, President of Worthy Insurance

Sonny Yonce of Edgefield County, Co-President of JW Yonce & Sons

Melvin Younts of Greenville County, Partner at Younts, Alford, Brown & Goodson

Gene Zurlo of Charleston County, President of Zurlo Investment Group