Rick Brundrett
Rick Brundrett joined the South Carolina Policy Council in September 2009 as a senior investigative reporter. Before joining the Policy Council, Rick spent more than 11 years as a legal issues reporter at The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C. While there, he covered federal, state appellate and local courts, as well as legislative issues affecting public safety. He produced numerous investigative pieces over the years, exposing, for example, the state’s low prosecution and conviction rates for domestic violence suspects, the rampant practice of plea bargaining in repeat-offender DUI cases, and how the state’s system of electing judges was blocking minority candidates from being considered. His work contributed to statewide reforms.
Rick spent the first 12 years of his newspaper career at The Herald-Palladium in St. Joseph, Mich., where he grew up. During most of his tenure there, he was the paper’s main police reporter. His investigative work included a series of stories on local unsolved child deaths, which resulted in criminal convictions in one of the cases.
Besides his newspaper positions, Rick also has been a freelance writer for South Carolina Lawyers Weekly and a consultant for the In Session (formerly Court TV) cable television program.
Rick has won numerous state and national awards over the years for his reporting and writing. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Central Michigan University, where he majored in journalism.
You can contact rick at: rick@thenerve.org or call (803) 254-4411.
Recent Articles
Senator Stalls Child Custody Bill
May 17, 2012, 5:55 a.m.A state senator is holding up a bill that supporters say would make major changes in the way child custody cases are handled in South Carolina.
S.C. Legislators Say 'No Agenda' on Trip to Turkey
May 16, 2012, 6 a.m.Although South Carolina has a relatively small Turkish population and no major trade with Turkey, eight S.C. senators apparently thought it was important enough to go on a 10-day, all-expenses-paid trip to the Middle Eastern country last year.
Why the Michelin Man is Smiling in S.C.
May 14, 2012, 6 a.m.The state and counties of Lexington and Anderson are doling out millions to Michelin North America for an $750 million expansion project that officials say will bring 500 jobs.
Data Center Incentives Bill Moves Forward
May 11, 2012, 6 a.m.An S.C. House bill that originally provided additional taxpayer-backed incentives to national corporate headquarters locating in South Carolina has been retooled to extend certain tax breaks to attract large data centers, such as those operated by Google and Facebook.
Senate Proposal Would Increase Number of Family Court Judges
May 9, 2012, 5:55 a.m.The S.C. Senate Judiciary Committee has proposed adding six family court judges statewide, up from three additional judges proposed by the House in March.
Expanded Incentives Bill Bogs Down Over Service Providers
May 8, 2012, 6 a.m.An amended S.C. House bill would extend a taxpayer-backed incentive to companies that use professional employer organizations.
Sullivan’s Island Citizens Group Still Fighting for Referendum
May 4, 2012, 5:55 a.m.A Sullivan’s Island citizens group plans to continue pushing for a public vote on a controversial elementary school-construction project, despite inaction by the Town Council on a sought-after referendum, a group spokeswoman said this week.
Hundreds of Expired Terms on State Panels Raise Concerns
May 2, 2012, 6 a.m.More than 600 positions on state boards, commissions and advisory committees have expired – the vast majority of which are appointed by the governor – leaving many volunteer panelists to serve years longer in “holdover” status, a review by The Nerve found.
Senator Proposes Putting Himself on SCRA Board
April 30, 2012, 6 a.m.One of the state’s most powerful lawmakers has authored a bill that would put himself on the board of trustees and executive committee of a little-understood, state-controlled technology and real estate company.
Capital Reserve Fund or Legislative Slush Fund?
April 27, 2012, 6 a.m.S.C. Sen. Shane Massey has proposed a resolution that would limit spending from the state's capital reserve fund.