COLUMBIA — Greenville County’s elections director will oversee the State Election Commission after months of turmoil at the agency, the commission decided Wednesday.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Conway Belangia, who has overseen elections and voter registration in the state’s largest county for 34 years. One member of the five-person governing board was absent for the specially called meeting.
Belangia took over as interim director immediately and will need approval from the Senate for the job to become permanent.
“I’m pleased to take on the role and the task of moving this agency forward,” he told reporters after the meeting.
Belangia’s appointment comes two weeks after Jenny Wooten took herself out of the running for the job. Wooten took over after the board fired former director Howard Knapp in September.
Wooten, who the board voted to make permanent director in December, did not give a reason for withdrawing in her resignation letter, though she didn’t have the three years of election administration experience required under state law.
Belangia, who is 72, shouldn’t run up against any similar issues with experience during his confirmation process, considering his four decades of experience in elections, most of that in administration, he said.
“Elections are in my blood,” Belangia said. “I love elections.”
South Carolina’s party primaries start in June. The two-week filing period for candidates to get on this year’s ballots began March 16.
He cited his work ethic and integrity as major assets in running the agency.
Knapp, the commission’s last permanent director, was arrested in October on charges of embezzlement and misconduct in office related to his use of state-provided vehicles in 2023. The case is ongoing.
Belangia hopes to rebuild trust with the elections commission and in elections in general, he said. Nationally, faith in elections has declined in recent years, amid rampant claims of fraud, much of which is unproven or false.
South Carolina has avoided any major fraud accusations. Belangia wants to make sure that remains the case, he said.
A review of South Carolina election records from 2020 through 2023 found no fraud that could have swayed results, according to a Legislative Audit Council report released in January 2024.
“We have a wonderful election system in South Carolina. I’m very proud of that,” Belangia said. “But I want to see it be the best it can be.”
Until he is confirmed, Belangia will receive a salary of $140,000.
Following his confirmation, legislators will determine his salary. Knapp, his predecessor, made $150,000 annually.
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