Catherine Templeton

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.

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

• Catherine Templeton at Ballotpedia