SC health board intends to pick new agency leader by January

COLUMBIA, S.C. — (AP) — The board that oversees South Carolina’s sprawling health and environmental agency said it intends to nominate a new director for the department by the end of the year.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control has been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic without a director since May, when Rick Toomey stepped down to spend more time with his family.

DHEC’s board received 65 applicants for the vacant position and has conducted nine interviews, DHEC Board Chairman Mark Elam said in a statement issued last week by the agency.

“As the ongoing pandemic looms, it’s never been more important that we find the right person to lead the agency,” Elam said.

Elam said the board plans more interviews and is aware that state senators, who must confirm the nomination, want a name by the time the legislative session starts Jan. 12.

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“It remains the intent of the Board to select a new director by the end of the year to submit for confirmation in January when the next legislative session begins,” Elam wrote in DHEC’s statement.

Toomey ran the agency for 15 months. He was on DHEC’s board when his colleagues selected him to run the agency after a 17-month search.

South Carolina has also been without a permanent public health director since September when Joan Duwve left DHEC after five months.

Cox Media Group