A former local Democratic party official said Gov. Mark Sanford remaining in office helps the Democratic party, by making a case for a change in leadership next year.
Local Republican leaders said the party does support Sanford’s impeachment, but feel that the proceedings will take away from more important issues in South Carolina — such as jobs and education.
The comments from former Democratic Chairman Jamie Sanderson and Republican Chairman Tom Swatzel came after the state ethics commission decided Wednesday that Sanford did violate state laws and will face some charges — either criminal or civil.
Distraction from key issues
“The Georgetown County Republican Party is on record as having supported seeking Gov. Sanford’s resignation months ago,’’ Swatzel said.
“Unfortunately, the actions surrounding efforts by the legislature to impeach him will distract from the real legislative business at hand — job creation, reforming education, reducing wasteful spending and taxation, and reforming the state’s antiquated government structure.
“I think most taxpayers are more interested in achieving these important legislative goals that affect their everyday lives rather than focusing on the Governor’s personal problems.”
Not helping the port
Recent support that Sanford has shown for the Port of Georgetown does very little for the county, Sanderson said.
Sanderson feels Sanford should not be telling local residents to “make noise,” about the port, but should have been more influential in getting funding.
“I don’t think he is helping us out,” Sanderson said. “If he was helping us out, he would not have gone to Argentina. I think our port situation should have been taken of years ago, not now. People have been aware of this since 2001. It’s been eight years.”
A spokesman for the port could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
The Democratic party is now focusing on the 2010 election, Sanderson said, rather than impeachment, Sanderson said.
“My opinion is, we just leave him in office,’’ Sanderson said. “He just shows that we need a change in leadership. The point is, if we’re going to have a governor who travels out of state and say that we need to make noise, we need a change in command.”
This week, an ethics panel ruled that Sanford will face charges for violating state laws.
The decision came after a three-month investigation into Sanford’s use of state, commercial and private airplanes and his campaign finance practices, according to the Associated Press.
The State Ethics Commission did not provide details of its decision or the specific charges the governor would face during a hearing of the panel early next year, the Associated Press said. Sanford's lawyer, however, predicted the governor would be cleared and any charges minor.
More details about the possible charges will be released next week, according to news reports.
Questions about Sanford's use of state, private and commercial planes arose after he disappeared from the state in June and admitted having an affair.
Many lawmakers were waiting for it to decide if they will join an effort to impeach Sanford when the legislature reconvenes in January. The governor repeatedly has rebuffed calls from fellow Republicans to resign before his second term ends in January 2011. State law prevents him from seeking a third.
“We feel vindicated that the Ethics Commission's finding of probable cause is limited to minor, technical matters that do not include any allegations of criminal conduct,” Sanford lawyer Butch Bowers said. He said he looked forward "to our opportunity to finally present our side of the case to the commission and get this matter resolved."
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Impeach Sanford? In a perfect world, I would like to see him step down. However. That would put Bauer in the governor’s mansion for over a year. Now we’re talking about a buffoon. I’m conservative and wouldn’t vote for him. Hence the problem. An incumbent (someone running for the office they currently hold) is difficult to unseat. Politics aside, it’s a proven statistic. Both sides understand that. The right doesn’t want Richard Cranium as governor for another 4 years. The left would rather have a fresh candidate instead of one that’s been working for a year to improve his chance of reelection. An impeachment process is going to take several months and cost millions of dollars. And for what? To bring more ridicule to our state? To oust the man for just a couple of months? Sanford is the lamest of ducks right now. It’s best to pen him up until he can be replaced in a general election. There are interesting tangents to these theories. Care to discuss them? Or do we continue to talk, off topic, about local bs? Posted by Get Back On Topic! on 12/1/2009 |
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They called me. I think I already stated that. I guess they cared, so that's debunks the "nobody" claim. Posted by Jamie Sanderson on 11/21/2009 |
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Would someone please tell me why I should give a fig what's the opinion of some umemployed, union deadbeat. It appears that the former chairman has nothing better to do but get his name in the paper. Heaven sakes man, go look for a job and give the paper a rest. Nobody cares what you think. Posted by G'town Democrat on 11/21/2009 |
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Jamie Shamderson. How rude. The only sham is the man pictured above. Posted by Knowsit on 11/20/2009 |
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Yes, yes, yes. Jamie Shamderson got his name in the paper again. Jamie Shamderson wants everyone to forget that he was forced to resign as the chair of the dummycrat party. Yes, yes, yes. Go back to cutting the grass at the union hall Jamie. Posted by on 11/20/2009 |
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Do not resign Mr Emperor. You are an emperor. You are aboce the law. Your personal life is yours to share with your family. That is not an impeachable crime. Lieing to the citizens about your wherabouts is a crime. But only US Presidents resign over lies (IE: Nixon). You abuse and misuse of tax payer money is a crime. But emperors do whatever they want. Our state legislators will not vote against you because some put their elephant poilitical party above the law. They will vote for their party and ignore your crimes. Emperors do not resign. Emperors are above the law. Hang tough emperor - you are a fine example! Oh, anyone notice that 8 years of the elephant running SC has brought us unemployment and bankrupt schools? GO EMPEROR!!! Posted by CommentGtown on 11/20/2009 |
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I love it. This story is about Sanford's anti-will to help our state, his ill performance with the port and his total disrespect for the people of S.C. Posted by Jamie Sanderson on 11/20/2009 |
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Yes, Mr. Tennant, you talked a good game and brought up some important issues. I will give you that. But your character as person with a short-temper and an "I am always right and everyone else is an idiot" attitude makes you unelectable. Thank God the vast majority of people also realize that. Jack Scoville was not the best person for the job either. Posted by on 11/20/2009 |
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I never said you couldn't have your opinion. What I find distasteful is that you refuse to acknowledge that I raised genuine issues in the campaign and prefer to simply attack using words that only serve to stir emotion. This shows that perhaps you have shortcomings on the intellectual side of things. Maybe you can improve on this character defect in the future. Posted by Marty Tennant on 11/20/2009 |
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Mr. Tennant, I expressed an opinion. In my opinion you are a buffoon. So, that fact is straight. It's a fact that in my opinion you are a buffoon. I do agree with you on one point. I do wish Mr. Charlton would have filed as Republican so he could have taken care of you in the primary so we wouldn't have had to look at that buffoonish billboard for all those weeks. Posted by on 11/20/2009 |
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I was the Republican candidate for Mayor and I am not a buffoon. I am a concerned citizen that had the guts to run hard against Jack Scoville. I ran an issue driven campaign and pointed our many problems with this city. I also disclosed the true cash position of the city, $14 million dollars. Your comments are off base and wrong. I was not nominated. I was the only Republican to file for Mayor. If the other three candidates had filed, we would have had a primary like the Democrats. I respect the process the Democrats went through. I wish there had been one opponent to Mr. Scoville, but since there were four, he was easily elected without a majority of the votes cast in a Democrat controlled city. Have a nice day and please try to keep your facts straight in the future. Posted by Marty Tennant on 11/20/2009 |
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I will concur the Republicans had a buffoon for a mayor candidate this year and all but the straight party voters and a few other nut cases agreed. However, the Democrats need a chairman who will be a spokesman, Having Sanderson as a mouthpiece hurts the party. He is so far to the left, he is three time zones behind us. Posted by on 11/20/2009 |
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The Chairman may not be active but the party is in great shape. No Democrats ran as petition candidates or write in candidates against the party nominees in the the city election. The partyd didn't nominate a fool to run as mayor. Posted by Voter on 11/20/2009 |
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I agree. Will the real chairman of the Democratic Party please stand up and say something for heavens sake. Or are you just a figment of our imaginations.? Posted by on 11/20/2009 |
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What in the dickens is going on with the local Democrat party. Do they not have a chairman? All we ever read about is what the FORMER chairman has to say. The party is in dissaray. Posted by on 11/20/2009 |
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