Trustee says battle 'intense'

After winning a bitter race to retain his seat on the board of South Carolina State University, Maurice Washington said he is focused on a new era of transparency and accountability for the Orangeburg school.

The historically black university has been mired in political mudslinging and faced questions about its bookkeeping.

On Wednesday, Washington defeated Patricia Lott, 82-76, for the board of trustees seat. State lawmakers re-elected three incumbents, including Washington, and elected one new trustee.

Washington had been criticized by many of the school's graduates after the board voted in December 2007 to fire former President Andrew Hugine.

Lott, executive director of the school's alumni association, had the backing of many Orangeburg area lawmakers.

The race became so politicized that U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn weighed in, but not in Washington's favor.

Washington quipped upon his victory that the biggest winners are residents of the 6th Congressional District, who can now regain the full attention of their congressman.

Washington, who has been on the board since 2001, said, "I'm glad it's over. It was very intense."

The Legislature divided largely along party lines, with Republican support behind Washington. Party labels rarely factor into board of trustees elections.

Lott said, "I have always been a supporter of the university, and I see no reason I should stop." Lott filled a non-voting ex-officio board seat as head of the school's national alumni association. Her term ends in July.

Washington said he wants to get to work overcoming the university's negative image. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating the university's Lowcountry Classic football game.

The scholarship fundraiser, which is held in Charleston, also factored into the December warning to the school by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which covered five areas of concern that centered on the board and whether it overstepped its authority.

Washington said he would still like to see an audit of the school's transportation and research center, a massive project that has shown little progress in a decade.

To date, there has been no "vertical" construction on the James E. Clyburn University Transportation Center, which is intended to educate future transportation employees and is expected to cost at least $70 million.

"Clyburn is a little upset there's no vertical construction and rightfully so," Washington said. "It's the prudent thing to do to trace the money."

Washington said he added the center as part of an internal audit that was approved last week by the board.

He also is troubled by an audit on the center conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that designated the university as a "high-risk guarantee" until it can demonstrate its financial management systems and internal controls are compliant.

In addition to overcoming the school's negative image, dealing with an $8 million loss in state appropriations this fiscal year also is a priority, Washington said.

Setting tuition and fees correctly and not putting the burden of a healthy budget on the backs of students are critical, he said.