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Six candidates are vying for the open seats on the South Carolina State University board vacated by longtime trustee Charles Williams.

The candidates for Williams' former seat are L.B. Spearman, Leslie McIver Sr., Rico M. Snell, John Dublin, Bryan S. Jeffries and Dianne W. Talley. Filing for the seat ended Wednesday.

Meanwhile, only Dr. Walter L. Tobin has filed to replace Col. John Bowden on the SCSU board. Tobin would bring more than 40 years of education experience to the board if he is confirmed by the General Assembly in the spring.

Bowden and Williams resigned their seats on the SCSU board to protest the removal of former President Dr. Andrew Hugine.

The candidates will be screened by a panel of state lawmakers on Feb. 25.

State Rep. Olin Phillips, D-Cherokee, chairman of the Legislative Screening Committee, says the candidates will be asked a number of questions, including their opinion on Hugine's removal.

"Any member can ask any questions they want," Phillips said.

Following the screening process, the committee will vote on whether to approve the candidates. If approved, the candidates will have time to court votes in the General Assembly before the election in early May.

SCSU Board Chairman Maurice Washington spoke highly of Tobin, but did not know any of the candidates seeking Williams' spot.

"He will be a wonderful addition to the board," said Washington of Tobin.

Tobin, an SCSU alumnus, has been a superintendent at school districts across the state, including Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5. He has also served as director of Adult Education for the State Department of Education, in addition to being a teacher and principal.

Tobin said he became motivated to apply for the open seat because of his love for SCSU, which he says gave him the tools he needed to succeed.

"It gave me a springboard to my career. This is an opportunity to give something back," he said.

Tobin said Hugine is a friend, noting that Hugine served on the OCSD 5 board when he was superintendent there.

However, he wants to keep that friendship with Hugine separate from the decision the board made last month.

On Dec. 11, the SCSU board decided by a 7-3-1 vote not to renew Hugine's contract and to place him on administrative leave. Hugine's last day was on Jan. 4. The board tapped Dr. Leonard McIntyre to be the interim president while it launches a nationwide search for a permanent replacement.

Washington said new trustees will not change the dynamic of the current board, noting that many trustees are relatively new to the board themselves.

"This is not the first time that we would have had two new members come on," he said. Washington said he hopes the new members will contribute to the board's diversity, which is something he said the board embraces.

"It would be nice if one of those names are Caucasian. Having diverse individuals interested in our university, it's always a wonderful thing," he said.

Following is a look at some of the candidates for Bowden's open seat:

* Leslie McIver: McIver once attended SCSU, but ended up graduating from Claflin University. He said his wife and four brothers all attended SCSU.

McIver said he has a lot of allegiance to the university and that he could provide experience and a calming influence on the board.

Like Tobin, McIver has 40 years in the education field. He serves on the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, is a former member of Conway City Council, and was a national officer for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. In Horry County, he founded the Community of Character initiative. McIver also ran unsuccessfully for the state House of Representatives.

McIver said he knows there is some unrest over Hugine's removal, however he feels the university should be focused on the future.

* L.B. Spearman: Spearman resides in North and his letter of intent to run for the SCSU board says he has 20 years of experience in government, business and industry. However, it did not mention any specific positions or titles.

A call to his home was not immediately returned.

* Rico Snell: Snell's letter of intent says he is an alumnus, graduating in 1995. He says he has served on SCSU's School of Business Advisory Board, which he credits with being instrumental in the accreditation process. He claims to have 13 years of "corporate execution, leadership and a sincere interest in redefining the brand of S.C. State."

"My intent as board member is to continue to support all efforts of the university to ensure alumni engagement, global competitiveness and faculty and staff development," the letter said.

* John Dublin: No specific information could be obtained from Dublin's letter of intent. He did not immediately respond to an e-mail.

* Bryan Jeffries: Jeffries is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and practices law in Orangeburg. He specializes in personal injury, worker's compensation and family law. His letter said he serves on the CASA Edisto Children's Center Multidisciplinary Board and volunteers at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

He says he is an active member of Kiwanis International of Orangeburg. Jeffries is also currently an adjunct professor at Claflin University.

An e-mail and phone calls were not immediately returned.

* Dianne Talley: No specific information about Talley was in her letter of intent, and she did not immediately respond to an e-mail or phone call.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.

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