Obama chooses former South Carolina State Superintendent to head federal agency

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has named former South Carolina state schools chief Inez Tenenbaum to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Obama also named Robert Adler, a former commission aide who teaches business ethics and product safety at UNC-Chapel Hill, to one of the panel’s seven-year seats.

“We must do more to protect the American public — especially our nation’s children — from being harmed by unsafe products,” Obama said. “I am confident that Inez and Bob have the commitment and expertise necessary to fill these roles and raise the standard of safety.”

Jim Rex, Tenenbaum’s successor as State Superintendent of Education, called her selection “a natural extension of her long-held commitment to children and families” and said that he looks forward to supporting her work.

Tenenbaum worked as an attorney and child advocate before serving two terms as State Superintendent of Education from 1999 to 2007.

“Inez’s law background will certainly help in her new role,” Rex said. “She has in some ways always been a consumer advocate, focused on children. And she is a good listener and has good skills as far as analysis is concerned. She knows how to balance the interests of different constituencies. She's got the right skill set to be very successful in this job.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Tenenbaum will oversee an agency with about 450 employees. Both of South Carolina’s senators, Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint, pledged to help Tenenbaum gain Senate confirmation.