Staff Writer

Today is the last day of the 2007-2008 legislative session and when the final gavel falls, with it will go any legislation that has not passed both houses.

During the two-year session, when hundreds of bills and resolutions have been introduced in the House and the Senate, only three bills - two by Rep. Mike Anthony and one by Sen. James Ritchie and all dealing with the Union County schools - have been introduced that relate strictly to Union County.

Destined to die with the end of the session is a bill by Ritchie, (R-Spartanburg/Union) that would have restructured the Union County Board of School Trustees.

The legislation, introduced April 18, 2007, would have two members of the board elected from each of the county's three senatorial districts, and three members being elected from the county at large.

Ritchie became upset with the Union County Board of School Trustees last year after he had broken a tie vote of the county's other two senators that allowed passage of a bill by Anthony to abolish a law requiring a unanimous vote of the school board before a high school in Union County could be closed.

Passage of Anthony's bill cleared the way for the school board to close Jonesville and Lockhart high schools and consolidate them with Union High School.

Sen. Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee/Union) had opposed Anthony's legislation while Sen. Linda Short (D-Chester/Union) had favored it.

Prior to breaking the tie, Ritchie said he had discussed Anthony's legislation with leaders of the school board and administration and had been assured that the school's name, mascot, and colors would be changed if the board consolidated the schools.

Almost immediately after Anthony's bill became law without the signature of Gov. Mark Sanford, the school board voted to close the schools and consolidate them with Union High School which they then named Union County High School. The board also voted to retain Union High's colors of yellow and black and its Yellow Jacket mascot, which upset Ritchie to the point of revamping the board's makeup.

Under Ritchie's bill the school board districts would have been based along lines of the three Senate districts in the county with two board members being elected from each of the districts and three trustees being elected from the county at large.

Since its introduction the bill appeared each day on the Senate's calender of business because Mrs. Short placed her name on the bill as desiring to be present when the legislation was taken up. This is a method used by senators to hold up legislation, and because of this, the bill was passed over each day the Senate was in session for more than a year.

Mrs. Short, who is not seeking re-election, represents 39.85 percent, or 11,908 of the county population. Ritchie's district has 8,026 people or 29.86 percent, and Peeler's district, 33.29 percent or 9,947 people.

Had Ritchie's bill passed the Senate it would have been up to Anthony whether or not it would pass the House since it would have been considered local legislation to be dealt with by the county's representatives. Anthony is Union's only representative in the House.

Ritchie said earlier this session that it was up to Short and Peeler to agree on allowing his legislation to pass, but no further action was ever taken.

The only other legislation dealing soley with Union was a bill by Anthony that revised the time candidates have to announce for the school board.