By John Temple Ligon

South Financial Group CEO Mack Whittle Photo courtesy of South Financial Group

At a luncheon on The Citadel campus last week the US undersecretary of transportation, Jeffery N. Shane, spoke to the Free Enterprise Foundation. It was the foundation's first annual award luncheon held at The Citadel, and The South Financial Group CEO Mack Whittle was congratulated for being the recipient of the foundation's first Free Enterprise Award for Ethics and Civic Responsibility. The South Financial Group is Carolina First's parent company.  

A few weeks earlier in Greenville, Whittle heard he was challenged for his seat on the USC board, which he joined in 1990 and where he was chairman. Whittle's challenger is Greenville tax attorney Dick Jones. There appears to be some disagreement between the Greenville legislative delegation and Whittle over property tax reform. Whittle objects to the Republican legislators' plans to abolish property taxes on homes in favor of higher sales taxes, a revenue neutral concept.

Whittle would like to see more due diligence to include a comprehensive tax study.

Others object to Whittle's votes for higher tuition at USC.

After five years of a tuition increases, Whittle has to stand in defense of the higher tuition.

The House and the Senate both typically vote on trustees in April.