Tuesday, Sep. 15, 2009

It's official: Rex joining governor's race

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex officially is in.

Late Monday, the 67-year-old Rex said he will seek the Democrat nomination for governor next year, focusing on job growth and economic development.

“South Carolina needs a new direction,” Rex said in a prepared statement. “Our current leadership has failed and the petty bickering, extreme partisanship and seemingly endless distractions have crippled our state government, which right now delivers way too little for what it spends.”

The former college president will tour the state today, stopping in Florence, Charleston, Columbia, Orangeburg, and Greenville.

Earlier this month, the Fairfield County Democrat said he would not seek a second term as the state’s school chief, a position he narrowly won against Republican Karen Floyd in 2006.

Rex is expected to tout educational gains on the campaign trail, including the state’s rising on-time graduation rate. But he likely will be dogged by critics who will point to small or nonexistent gains in high-poverty schools.

“The most important issue to the future of South Carolina is education, and Jim knows the most about educational problems we face in this state. He deals with it every day,” said Phil Noble, president of the S.C. New Democrats, a group that has not endorsed a candidate.

“Whether or not his time (as the state’s education chief) will be a political advantage or disadvantage, that remains to be seen.”

Rex, the only Democrat in statewide office, has yet to ramp up his fundraising efforts.

According to his most recent disclosure, he has raised nearly $37,000 and spent all but $9,000.

Rex joins a crowded Democratic field, including Columbia attorney Dwight Drake, Charleston pastor Amos Elliott, state Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston, Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod and state Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden.

Reach Smith at (803) 771-8658.

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