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."