Catherine Templeton
Director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
In office
March 28, 2012 – January 12, 2015
GovernorNikki Haley
Preceded byEarl Hunter
Succeeded byCatherine E. Heigel
Director of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation
In office
January 13, 2011 – March 28, 2012
GovernorNikki Haley
Preceded byAdrienne Riggins Youmans
Succeeded byHolly Gillespie Pisarik
Personal details
Born
Catherine Brawley

(1970-12-07) December 7, 1970
Lexington, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMorgan Templeton (2001–present)
Children3
EducationWofford College (BA)
University of South Carolina, Columbia (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Catherine Templeton is an American attorney and political figure from South Carolina. She was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor of South Carolina in the 2018 election. Templeton is the former Director of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation in the Cabinet of Governor Nikki Haley.

Early life and education

Catherine was born on December 7, 1970. She grew up in Lexington, South Carolina and graduated from Irmo High School in 1989. She attended the University of Antwerp and graduated with a B..A in political economics and philosophy from Wofford College in 1993.[1] Templeton worked for Roger Milliken and then earned a J.D. degree in 1998 from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Career

After law school, Templeton took a position with the law firm Ogletree Deakins[2] where she specialized in union avoidance and advised Fortune 500 companies. Templeton's private sector career was notable for her involvement in fighting labor unions, most notably as the only woman involved in three successful defeats of the historic United Auto Workers drive on Nissan in Smyrna, Tennessee in the late 1990s.[3]

In 2009, Templeton got involved in a national education effort with retired United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor designed to increase civics knowledge among middle school students about the way government works.[4] Initially, Templeton was the South Carolina pilot co-chair for Our Courts, but the program expanded its scope and its reach to all 50 states and became iCivics and Templeton was named by the Justice as the National Volunteer Coordinator.[5] In October 2010, O'Connor recommended Templeton for a judgeship.[6]

South Carolina Director of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation

Templeton with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and Thomas P. D'Agostino

In 2010, Governor Nikki Haley asked Templeton to join then Governor-elect Haley's Cabinet as Secretary of Labor.[7] Templeton had voted for Democratic State Senator Vincent Sheheen for governor in 2010 over then-State Representative Haley.[8] In 2012, Governor Nikki Haley appointed Templeton to the Director's position at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. On December 8, 2010, Governor-elect Nikki R. Haley appointed Templeton to be the South Carolina Director of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (LLR). Haley and Templeton were subsequently sued by the AFL-CIO in federal court. That case was dismissed in favor of Haley and Templeton. Additionally, the National Labor Relations Board filed a Charge against Templeton in April 2011, that was subsequently dismissed.[9]

Templeton cut staffing for the state's immigration enforcement program from more than 20 to three while head of the LLR. In 2011, Templeton halted the inefficient LLR audit program that checked whether S.C. employers were verifying the legal immigration status of new hires by implementing a state-wide EVerify requirement.[10][11]

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

In 2012, Templeton was selected by the South Carolina DHEC board to be director at the agency. She was confirmed as Director on February 28, 2012.[12] In her first two months as director, Templeton "cut a swath through personnel and agency practices, raising hackles in the General Assembly." Templeton laid off nine agency staffers while creating "three high-dollar executive positions, a move that exasperated anti-tax supporters who expected her to cut costs."[13]

As DHEC director, Templeton proposed a series of restrictions on food stamps, suggesting that the state should strictly limit the kinds of foods that could be purchased using food stamps. Templeton framed the proposal as an anti-obesity measure. The trial balloon received "plenty of feedback, both positive and negative"; the South Carolina Beverage Association objected to proposals to bar use of food stamps for sugary beverages.[14]

Templeton was director of DHEC during the Ebola virus cases in the United States in 2014.[15] As director, Templeton tested Ebola emergency response protocols at Charleston hospitals.[16]

Templeton's employment as director of DHEC ended effective January 12, 2015.[17]

After her termination as director of the state's health and environmental agency, Templeton was paid $124,000 for five months' work as a consultant for two state agencies. The directors of those state agencies at the time are among Templeton's gubernatorial campaign contributors.[8]

Environment and Savannah River site

Templeton was responsible for South Carolina's "unusual display of resistance" and threatened to impose a $154M fine on the federal government for failing to meet its responsibilities at the Savannah River site.[18]

Politics

In 2012, after Senator Jim DeMint resigned from the United States Senate to become president of The Heritage Foundation, Templeton was placed on a short list of possible appointees to fill his remainder of his term, along with Senator Tim Scott, Congressman Trey Gowdy, and former First Lady of South Carolina Jenny Sanford.[19]

Templeton was summoned to Trump Tower to meet with President-elect Donald Trump when he was picking his cabinet, but she turned down a job in the U.S. Department of Labor.[20][21] When Trump's initial nominee, Andrew Puzder, withdrew from consideration, Templeton was one of four people who were considered for the post.[22][23][24][25]

2018 gubernatorial election

In April 2017, Templeton announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor in 2018.[26]

In early August 2017, Templeton attracted controversy when she stated at a campaign event in Pickens County, "I am proud of the Confederacy," while also saying that she supports the General Assembly's decision in 2015, following the Charleston church shooting, to remove the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the South Carolina State Capitol.[27][28][29] Templeton also vowed, if elected governor, not to allow the removal of any Confederate monument in the state.[30]

On the campaign trail, Templeton said that she opposed drilling off the coast of South Carolina.[30] Templeton took an anti-abortion position, saying that abortion should only be legal in cases of incest or when the woman's life was endangered by the pregnancy.[30]

On June 12, 2018, Templeton placed third in the gubernatorial Republican Primary, receiving 21.4% of the votes.[31] After her defeat, she endorsed businessman John Warren.[32]

South Carolina Gubernatiorial Primary (Republican), 2018
Candidate Votes %
Henry McMaster 155,072 42.3
John Warren 102,006 27.8
Catherine Templeton 78,432 21.4
Kevin L. Bryant 24,699 6.7
Yancey McGill 6,349 1.7

Awards and distinctions

In 2014, Templeton was awarded the Defender of Manufacturing Award by the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance.[33]

In 2010, Templeton was awarded the Compleat Lawyer Award of the South Carolina School of Law.[34]

Additionally, Sandra Day O'Connor appointed her as the National Coordinator for iCivics, a civics education project.[5]

While in state government, Templeton was Chair of the State Emergency Response Committee and was appointed by Governor Haley to the Savannah River Maritime Commission.

Personal life

Templeton is the mother of three children, including twins, and is married to Morgan Templeton, a business lawyer in private practice. They attend St. Michael's Church. Her volunteer work includes board positions with the Junior League, Gibbes Museum of Art Women's Council, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Garden Club of Charleston, Parents' Association President at First (Scots) Presbyterian Kindergarten, and Sunday School Coordinator at St. Michael's Church.[5][35]

References

  1. ↑ Catherine Templeton. "Catherine Templeton | Liberty Fellowship". Libertyfellowshipsc.org. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  2. ↑ The State, Templeton Wins Over Skeptics After Turbulent First Year at Helm, March 10, 2013
  3. ↑ "Nikki Haley announces LLR Appointee Catherine Templeton". YouTube. 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  4. ↑ The Charleston Post and Courier, Teaching Civics, October 2, 2009. Wofford Today, Alumni News, Winter 2009; For The Defense, Affiliates in Action, February 2010
  5. 1 2 3 "About Catherine Templeton". Templeton for Governor. Archived from the original on 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
  6. ↑ Letter from United States Supreme Court Justice (Ret.) Sandra Day O'Connor to SC Judicial Merit Selection Commission dated October 29, 2010
  7. ↑ John O'Connor (2010-12-08). "Governor-elect Haley taps lawyer as new LLR chief". The State. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  8. 1 2 Self, Jamie (1 November 2017). "She's running for governor as a conservative 'outsider.' But she voted for a Democrat". The State. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "DHEC: General Agency Information". Scdhec.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  10. ↑ "South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation Annual Accountability Report" (PDF). p. 6. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  11. ↑ Barton, Tom (1 June 2018). "Templeton, McMaster talk tough on immigration, but SC enforcement cut back". The State. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "S.C. DHEC: About DHEC - Executive Management Team - Catherine Templeton, Director". 30 December 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "Templeton a buzz saw at DHEC". Post & Courier. 2012-05-05.
  14. ↑ Joey Holleman, DHEC leader suggests even more food stamp restrictions, The State (February 10, 2013).
  15. ↑ "State Leaders in South Carolina Talk Ebola Preparedness". YouTube. 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  16. ↑ Sausser, Lauren (2014-10-14). "DHEC director tests Ebola protocols at 2 SC hospitals". The Herald.
  17. ↑ "Templeton to resign as head of DHEC". WHNS. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  18. ↑ MATTHEW L. WALDNOV (2013-11-28). "South Carolina Threatens Washington Over Cleanup". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  19. ↑ "Haley finalizes short list for DeMint seat". CNN. 2012-12-11.
  20. ↑ "No experience needed: Trump taps Carson for HUD secretary". The Day. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  21. ↑ Kropf, Schuyler (2017-02-16). "South Carolina's Catherine Templeton out of running as Trump's labor secretary pick | Palmetto Politics". Postandcourier.com. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  22. ↑ "Four contenders emerge for Trump's Labor post after Puzder pulls out". Fox News. 2017-02-15.
  23. ↑ MEG KINNARD. "SC governor's race takes on new twist". GoUpstate.
  24. ↑ "Catherine Templeton running for governor". Post & courier. 2016-11-19.
  25. ↑ Pramuk, Jacob (16 February 2017). "Trump's first choice backed out, so here's the short list of who could be Labor secretary". CNBC.
  26. ↑ Crysty Vaughan, Catherine Templeton Announces 2018 Run for Governor, WOLO (April 4, 2017).
  27. ↑ Meg Kinnard, SC GOP candidate: Proud of Confederacy but for removal of flag, Associated Press (August 2, 2017).
  28. ↑ Andy Shain, South Carolina governor candidate Catherine Templeton's 'proud of the Confederacy' remarks stir controversy, Post & Courier (August 2, 2017).
  29. ↑ "South Carolina gubernatorial candidate says she's 'proud of the Confederacy'". ThinkProgress. 2 August 2017.
  30. 1 2 3 Dustin Waters, Catherine Templeton, GOP gubernatorial candidate, touts Confederate pride, abortion restrictions, coastal protection, Charleston City Paper (August 2, 2017).
  31. ↑ Almukhtar, Sarah; Bloch, Matthew; Lee, Jasmine C. (12 June 2018). "South Carolina Primary Election Results". The New York Times.
  32. ↑ Barton, Tom (14 June 2018). "Templeton, Bryant endorse Warren to unseat McMaster in GOP runoff for SC governor". The State. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  33. ↑ ":: Welcome to SCMA". Myscma.com. 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  34. ↑ "Silver Awards : Compleat Lawyer Awards | University of South Carolina School of Law". Law.sc.edu. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  35. ↑ "South Carolina: Governor's race will be a battle". Southern Political Report. 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
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