A look at the most influential S.C. Republicans of the past 10
years:
• David Wilkins — Speaker
of the House since 1994; undisputed leader of the state Republican
Party from 1999-2003
• Rick Quinn — Became House
majority leader in 1999; helped House GOP caucus make steady
gains
• Terry Haskins — Was
speaker pro tem after Republican takeover in 1994
• David Beasley — Elected
governor in 1994, told House Republicans to vote for Wilkins for
speaker or get no access to his office; later became party pariah
after losing re-election
• Glenn McConnell — Senate
president pro tem and Judiciary Committee chairman; became perhaps
the most powerful man in state government after 2001 GOP Senate
takeover
• Hugh Leatherman — Assumed
title of Senate majority leader and Finance Committee chairman after
takeover
• Mark Sanford — Solidified
GOP power at State House when elected governor in 2002
• Bob Peeler — As
lieutenant governor from 1995 to 2002, used office to thwart
Democrats
• Bobby Harrell — Chairman
of budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee since 1999; former
House majority leader
• Henry McMaster — State
party chairman when GOP took over the House in 1994; led the party
through expansion
• Katon Dawson — Took over
party chairmanship from McMaster; worked to solidify dominance in
state politics
— Aaron Gould
Sheinin
