Farmer to Stay on as South Carolina Insurance Director

Raymond Farmer is staying on to lead South Carolina’s Department of Insurance.

Farmer said Tuesday he was honored to be asked by Gov. Nikki Haley to stay on in the position he’s held since 2012.

Farmer took over nearly a year after the agency’s last director, David Black, resigned abruptly.

Haley said it took so long to fill the role because she wanted to hire someone from the private sector, but found it difficult to attract the right candidate who was willing to take a government salary.

Farmer retired as Southeast vice president at the American Insurance Association. Haley said Tuesday that Farmer was committed to making the insurance agency as consumer friendly as possible while keeping South Carolina friendly to businesses.