Now let the governor do her job

I would like to commend the S.C. House of Representatives Ethics Committee on a job well done. After a thorough examination of the accusations brought forth against Gov. Nikki Haley, the committee once again found no evidence of any wrongdoing and for the second time in two months, dismissed the claims.

I would also like to commend Gov. Haley for voluntarily appearing in person to answer these claims directly and clear her name, rather than simply deferring to intermediaries to answer the questions on her behalf.

During the course of these unprecedented public ethics hearings, 10 witnesses came forward to testify and swear under oath that the governor did not violate the law.

Following the committee’s vote to dismiss the claims, the House Ethics Committee chairman, Rep. J. Roland Smith, told The New York Times, “We turned over every stone that we could to find evidence that would make a different decision. It’s over. It’s been dismissed.”

While this may have been a frustrating, laborious process for many to have gone through, it is imperative for the public to know that when accusations of our elected officials misusing their offices for personal gain are made, they are taken seriously and addressed. And that is exactly what the committee and Gov. Haley did.

These claims have now been dismissed or discredited twice by the House, by a judge, by a former U. S. Attorney and by State Ethics Commission officials.

Now, it is in the best interest of our state to move forward.

It is time to allow the governor to return to focusing her undivided attention on the serious issues our state faces.

To continue rehashing this doesn’t do one single thing to improve the quality of life of the citizens of our state.

And in a time when some South Carolinians are struggling to make their mortgage payments or put food on their tables because they don’t have a job, we can ill afford to have our state leaders distracted by petty politics.

Like my father, the late Gov. Carroll A. Campbell, Jr., Gov. Haley has made job creation the hallmark of her administration and she must be allowed to concentrate her efforts on this, unencumbered by unfounded accusations.

I have every bit of faith that Gov. Haley can achieve for South Carolina the level of prosperity we have enjoyed in the past in our state. She deserves the opportunity to do so.

Mike Campbell
Chief Development Officer

Congaree Triton Acquisitions, LLC

Marion Street
Columbia