Former South Carolina Lt. Governor Nick Theodore has written an important article for Greenville Online in which he laments the lack of leadership in the current economic crisis in the state.

Now, our state is facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and we no longer possess the luxury of time. We need immediate action by our state leaders.

Mr. Theodore reminds us of the good work he, then-Governor Carroll Campbell and the state legislature did to bring businesses and jobs to South Carolina. He implies that current Governor Mark Sanford is responsible for the state’s economic woes:

Many South Carolinians are disappointed that during the past week Gov. Mark Sanford did not include in his statements direction changes for our state by:

• Reaching out to and improving relations with our legislative leaders, and stopping the ongoing feud that is hurting the financial well-being of our citizens.

• Having specific proposals that make our state more competitive in attracting jobs as we continue to face double-digit unemployment.

• Assuring existing and new business owners that our state will deliver on its promises to them.

• Proposing plans to increase our per capita income, which is now one of the lowest in the nation.

• Forming a leadership panel composed of business, government and private citizens to help advance our state’s economy.

With respect to Mr. Theodore, there is much blame to lay at the two chambers of the legislature.  Mark Sanford’s loner approach to governance is as unfortunate as it is documented, but in a state whose chief executive is as (see, I’m trying not to say “neutered” given present circumstances) … constitutionally and institutionally weakened as is the case in South Carolina, putting the onus of success on the governor is incorrect.

I DO agree with Mr. Theodore when he says “The time for leadership repair is now.“  That repair is dependent on a major change not only in techniques of governing, but in the personality of leadership.

The developing crop of gubernatorial candidates – with one exception – will not allow for that change.  Oh, there may be “cooperation” between the Governor’s Office and the General Assembly, but it’s the kind of collaboration that is more likely to continue what Mr. Theodore calls an “inability to respond aggressively to this current recession.”

“Leadership repair” is available if the voters turn their backs on the same old guys doin’ the same old thing.

In the words of the great inter-galactic philosopher and sage -Yoda, “there is another.”