FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MACE CAMPAIGN EXPOSES CATHERINE TEMPLETON FOR COSTING TAXPAYERS $1.2 MILLION IN LEGAL SETTLEMENTS

Expensive, Wasteful Wrongful Termination Cases Against Templeton

 

Charleston, S.C. – June 5, 2024 – Nancy Mace’s congressional campaign today highlighted the troubling public employment record of Catherine Templeton, exposing her as reckless and whose actions have repeatedly cost South Carolina taxpayers dearly.

 

Templeton has a history of controversial decisions during her tenure in state government. Her tenure as the head of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (LLR) is marred by expensive legal settlements resulting from wrongful terminations and civil rights violations. 

 

Since 2011, Templeton’s reckless approach to “cutting” state spending has ironically set nearly $1.2 million in South Carolina taxpayer dollars ablaze to cover her settlements and legal fees. 

 

  • Discriminatory Firing Practices: Legal fees and settlements for wrongful terminations under Templeton’s watch have cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.11 of the state employees who were terminated by Templeton went onto file lawsuits against her. Defending and settling these lawsuits for Templeton cost S.C. taxpayers $1.2 million. 

 

  • Federal Civil Rights Claims: Templeton’s decision to eliminate over 50 positions at LLR disproportionately affected African-American employees, resulting in legal actions that cost the state $720,000.

 

  • Public Health Negligence: Her tenure at DHEC saw multiple firings, including that of three tuberculosis specialists during a critical outbreak, costing the state over $300,000 in legal settlements.

 

Gabrielle Lipsky, spokesperson for the Nancy Mace campaign, stated, “Catherine Templeton’s tenure in state government is a masterclass in reckless mismanagement and utter disregard for taxpayer dollars. Templeton was a destructive force who left chaos and hefty bills in her wake. South Carolina cannot afford leaders who treat public service like a game, where the real losers are the taxpayers.”  

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