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What A State Treasurer Actually Does And Why It Matters
Send us Fan Mail A $1.8 billion accounting error forces one big question: who’s watching the money, and how would we even know if something goes wrong? We talk with Vincent Coe, a candidate for South Carolina Treasurer, about what real financial accountability looks like when the office oversees more than $70 billion in public funds. For us, this is about trust, clear reporting, and the basics of transparency that taxpayers should never have to fight for. Vincent shares his path from Darlington County to a career built around numbers and oversight, including finance studies at the University of South Carolina and work as an FDIC bank examiner during the post-2008 era when bank failures were still fresh. That experience shapes how he thinks about controls, compliance, and protecting everyday people, not just balancing spreadsheets. We also talk about why the treasurer is often described as the state’s banker and why competence and integrity have to travel together in a role this serious. We get practical, too. The South Carolina Treasurer’s Office oversees unclaimed property, and many residents have money waiting for them if they take the time to search and file a claim. We also discuss the state retirement system and what it means when a pension system is not fully funded, plus the treasurer’s influence on statewide banking through the board of financial institutions. We wrap with key voting reminders, including early voting dates and the importance of checking your voter registration. If you care about South Carolina state finances, unclaimed money, public pensions, and government transparency, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who needs the voting dates, and leave a review with your biggest question about what the treasurer should be responsible for. Support the show

