Democrats fined, Republicans respond | Georgetown, SC

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Published on 7/23/2008
Written by Scott Harper

The Georgetown County Democratic Party has been hit with a $100 fine by the S.C. Ethics Commission for a failure to report violation.
The Party did not list an in-kind contribution from the United Steelworkers of America on disclosure forms, according to documents.
At issue is the use of the USWA Local 7898 Union Hall on Butts Street for party functions and the use of the organization’s equipment for party purposes from 2004-2007. The equipment includes a copy machine, chairs and yard signs, the order states. Those contributions, by law, were supposed to be disclosed.
County Democratic Party Chairman Jamie Sanderson said the failure to disclose was unintentional and was done “due to officers at the time not being accustomed to new disclosure requirements.” He said it “was not done in malice or purposefully. Any violation was inadvertent and never intended to violate the act.”
County Republican Party Chairman Tom Swatzel said the violation shows the close connection between the local Democratic Party and union officials.
“Georgetown County voters have a right to know just how indebted Democrat Party officials are to union bosses who have a very recent history of deceiving Georgetown County taxpayers and threatening city businesses,” Swatzel said in a press release.
He added, paraphrasing the Ethics Commission ruling, "retired steelworkers actually answered the telephone that was maintained by the Democrats at that location.”
Sanderson, in a press release issued a little more than an hour after Swatzel statement, said Democrats “always will be a friend of labor. We are proud to be associated
with the same people who work to better workers' rights and conditions in this great country we call America.”
Sanderson accused Republicans of being in a “fear mode” and are playing “dirty politics” with the violation.
“They have no answers on the issues most important to the people of Georgetown and they really need to be working on that aspect as a whole,” Sanderson said.

Stop advertising your silly blog. No one wants to hear about it and it has nothing to do with the subject.

Posted by lol on 8/2/2008

Look what I did in your state. Keep on letting my SCRG get away with this, and I'll have control of your whole state lawmakers. Can't wait! http://scbarbecue.blogspot.com/2007/07/list.html

Posted by Howie on 8/1/2008

Business as usual.........conservatives look at issues and liberals automatically blame the other side before they read in a typical knee-jerk reaction

Posted by Ed Sjolin on 7/31/2008

Getting a violation BEFORE you are in office? That is awesome! Way to get a head start.

Posted by Yep on 7/28/2008

This sounds a little like Washington. Republican Larry Craig made a pass at at someone in a bathroom - Republicans called for him to step down. Democrat William Jefferson was caught on tape taking bribes. Authorities found $90,000 dollars hidden in his freezer- he was promoted by Democrat Nancy Pelosi.. In addition, his district s voted him back into office despite his criminal activity. Democrat Sandy Berger stole and destroyed classified documents relating to the 9/11 attack. He is still there while Republican Tom Delay has stepped down for actions that have not been proven unethical or illegal. . It seems there is a double standard in Washington. I'm sure this was just an error by the Democrats in Georgetown County. The fine will be paid with no harm done

Posted by Bonne Wheeler on 7/26/2008

wow, i really have no idea if its true. theres a lot of talk that it is, but most of that talk is by untrustworthy and/or vindictive people. ive heard it before says theres a link proving innocense, but i haven't cared enough to follow it. thats just it--i dont care enough. ive seen the absolute crap that jamie sanderson puts on message boards and in the paper and im convinced the apple doesnt fall far from the tree. i vote for the best person, and i see that james is not at all the best leader available. its funny that one village idiot claims to 'have the docs myself' that prove wrongdoing, but he wont share them online for legal reasons. does that mean the docs are libelous?? forget the b.s. and see who actually makes sense when they speak.

Posted by xuhong gaio on 7/25/2008

I agree with you xg on most of your last post but since you have broached the subject, xg do you think the allegations about Charlton being convicted by the ethics commision are true? I was reading about it in another post but there seems to be some contention about whether it is true or not. From what I have seen so far no one has any real proof he was found guilty. If I am wrong please correct me as I would like to know the truth of the matter and where to find a definitive answer. Many people seem to have "opinions" but when it comes to proof no as of yet has shown any. I know this is a little off topic but lets face it, this story is political from top to bottom anyway.

Posted by Wow on 7/25/2008

you guys--anytime a dem does wrong a republican is going to call it out, and vice versa. wake up and know it for what it is each time. the truth of the matter is that the dems made a violation and were fined. the other truth is that the republicans are making too big a deal out of it, as if it were a terrorist attack or something. my guess is that its in response to all the allegations thrown at charlton in the past. they are NOT smear campaigns, they are propaganda campaigns. the former implies non-factual findings, which is not the case here.

Posted by xuhong gaio on 7/25/2008

EVERYTIME a Democratic officer, candidate or what-have-you, makes an ethics mistake and is caught, it's ALWAYS the Republicans slandering and smearing them. Wow.

Posted by What EVER. on 7/24/2008

To "Sanderson for District 2" So the Democrats break the law, the State Ethics commision catches it, and it is the Republicans trying to smear Mr Sanderson? I would stick to the "we didn't know what was required" story if I were you. At least you have a shot at some one believing that rather than some ridiculous conspiracy theory! You must be Stephen King to write an unbelieveable story like that! Whats next, is the Loch Ness monster picking up Republicans to go to the voting booth? Man take off the protective aluminum foil helmet and ease up on the coffee! The Democrats made a mistake and the powers that be caught it. End of Story.

Posted by WOW thats rich! on 7/23/2008

Where is this alledged violation posted? At the bottom of this post is a link to Ron being CLEARED of any wrong doing by the Ethics commision back in 2001 but I have searched the Ethics commision list of violations and not found Ron Charltons violations yet. If I am wrong please post a link to the violation, otherwise stop dragging a mans name in the mud. http://archives.gtowntimes.com/archive_detail.php?archiveFile=pubfiles/gtt/archive/2001/May/05/News/1768095.xml&start=0&numPer=20&keyword=Ethics+violation§ionSearch=&begindate=1%2F1%2F1999&enddate=7%2F20%2F2008&authorSearch=&IncludeStories=1&pubsection=&page=&IncludePages=1&IncludeImages=1&mode=allwords&archive_pubname=The+Georgetown+Times%0A

Posted by Heard it all before on 7/23/2008

This is all just an effort by the republican party to prop up Ron Charlton. Ron Charlton has been personally found guilty by the state ethics commission. This is the republicans trying to smear Mr. James Sanderson. The truth will get out about Ron Charlton just you wait.

Posted by Sanderson for district 2 on 7/23/2008

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