Senate shies from Sanford probe
McConnell expects Port Royal issue to play out in other venues
By Robert Behre , Yvonne Wenger
Gov. Mark Sanford
COLUMBIA — The voices calling for an investigation into Gov. Mark Sanford's involvement in a Port Royal land deal grew louder Thursday, when a legislator introduced a Senate measure calling for its own investigation.
But Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell said he didn't think a Senate investigation would be appropriate because the body's role with any gubernatorial impropriety — and McConnell wasn't alleging one — is to serve as jury, not top cop.
The Charleston Republican doesn't expect the issue to die quietly. Rather, he expects the matter to play out in other venues as a fire storm surrounding the State Ports Authority unfolds.
The controversy, uncovered earlier this month by The Associated Press, involves rumors Sanford relayed damaging information to the then-chairman of the SPA and its lawyer about the personal and professional life of the developer buying the Port Royal land from the state.
The news service also learned that Jim Chaffin, a Beaufort County developer who was an unsuccessful bidder, and his wife, Betsy, contributed $8,850 to Sanford's election fund.
That sparked Sen. Brad Hutto, D- Orangeburg, to file legislation Thursday calling for a probe into the governor's dealings. His measure needed a two-thirds majority to be debated in the Senate, but it fell three votes short, with mostly Republicans opposing it, according to the AP. It was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but Hutto said he'll call for a vote Tuesday to bring the measure back to the Senate floor.
The 50-year-old port was put up for sale in late 2005, and the SPA accepted and approved a bid of nearly $26 million for the 50-acre property in November.
The winning bidder was Main Street Realty, headed by Hilton Head Island's David Staley, and Global Asset Alternatives of Atlanta under their partnership, Port Royal Harbor LLC. The sale is not expected to close for at least three months.
During a visit to Charleston earlier this week, Sanford said that Chaffin's contributions to his campaign were a pittance relative to the $15 million he has raised during his gubernatorial races and that they would never drive a decision.
"Anybody who has followed my record, whether in Congress or in the governorship, has probably been drawn to the rock-solid conclusion that the guy, for better or for worse, is going to vote his conscience," Sanford said of himself.
"Attacks are part of the process of politics, and it's tough to always disprove a negative, so if someone wants to create an allegation or innuendo, then one is sort of left with, 'OK, what are the facts?' "
Sanford said he had an obligation to check out the developer's track record given the importance of the deal.
Bill Stern, a member of the SPA board and chairman when the Port Royal sale got under way, said the governor talked about his concerns with the potential buyer.
In Stern's opinion, Sanford was doing his job by watching out for the state. Stern said Sanford, who appoints the board members, never told him how to vote on the deal.
"From my standpoint as a citizen, I am very happy the governor took that much of an interest," Stern said.
Sanford press secretary Joel Sawyer said Thursday that the governor would welcome an impartial investigation.
Like McConnell, Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, said that if there's cause for an investigation, the Senate is not the right entity to conduct it.
Discussion in the Legislature on the matter could come as part of a forthcoming reconfirmation hearing for Stern by the Senate Transportation Committee. Also, the discussion could come if the Senate decides to take a look into whether the governor should have the power dismiss the ports board members at will, following Sanford's dismissal of former board member Carroll Campbell III in January. Campbell filed a suit that also questioned Sanford's involvement in the Port Royal sale.
Campbell said Thursday that he has decided to drop the suit.
Peter Hull contributed to this report. Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com. Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or rbehre@postandcourier.com.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly versionComments
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
CHECK THIS OUT, THIS IS AMAZING!
Mark Sanford avoiding the topic of illegal immigration
VIDEO LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHJohB...
and here's another one...
Senator Jake Knotts on Governor Sanford's State of the State
VIDEO LINK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBa2xU...
February 29, 2008 at 1:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
MORE AMAZING VIDEO:
RE: Mark Sanford
John Land on Workers' Comp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgkySC...
Workers' Compensation | Sanford must tell judge his side
Governor directed to explain to federal justice why he tried to influence workers' comp board
But during a Jan. 14 hearing, U.S. District Judge Ross Anderson said the case against Sanford and the commission raises "very serious federal constitutional issues."
Anderson the next day extended a restraining order preventing the Workers' Compensation Commission from obeying the governor's orders on how to judge cases and whether to release certain case information. The federal restraining order is in place until Feb. 15.
Anderson also added Sanford as a defendant so the commissioners won't be put in a position of having to defend Sanford's actions.
The seven-member commission is appointed by the governor to hear disputes between people who claim they were injured on the job and their employers. While appointed by the governor, the commission is a judicial board that is supposed to issue orders without outside influence. The governor can fire members for cause.
http://www.thestate.com/politics/stor...
February 29, 2008 at 2:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
PM,
Yes but its every where, not just SC my friend.
What do we do? I'm not much into phoney prophecy(not to include the Bible),but I read an interesting quatran from Nostradamous that predicts this election yr the US will suffer a near chaotic event that will almost bring her to her knees. Says someone wins the poplar vote and loses the electoral vote and the people hit the streets. Maybe it will take something like this to wake the people up?
Of course unless he missed his years and this already occured?!
February 29, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bkeelin (anonymous) says...
Gov. Sanford is trying to bring SC out from underneath the predators who raid its coffers and steer its progress for their own personal gain. A man of integrity and character who actually works at doing the right thing. These predators in the legislature and those who sit on these boards are trying to keep SC for themselves so that they can satisfy their ego's and their pocket books.
February 29, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
SC Needs a Special Investigations Unit to Investigate Illegal Conduct by Government Officials...Based on Complaints From The Public Not the Politicians.
February 29, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
http://www.nlectc.org/virlib/InfoDeta...
If this is the same land used for this homeland Security Project I would suspect That Governor Mark Sanford was trying to weed out people Associated with groups that might not be favorable to this project.Just a Thought.
February 29, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
PM I agree But Somehow I think that Governor sanford Is Being targeted Because He is Trying To Clean this Mess up. I Think.
February 29, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
http://www.scheadlines.com/article.as...
Or is This just Personal.Both Their Children Go to The same school.
February 29, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Too boring...dems, righteously indignant, call for the investigation of a rep, and at other times, reps, righteously indignant, call for the investigation of a dem...ho hum. Only when the dems or reps turn on one of their own does anyone risk a penalty. The accusation, while possibly true, is too vague and ethereal to stick and only serves the accuser. Are we not too distracted enough already to tackle real problems like illegal workers, fiscal policy, environment, schools, etc.
February 29, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
I agree Theronce
February 29, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
Is He Hiring Investigators? LOL
February 29, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commonsence (anonymous) says...
Funny this comes out as Sanford is being considered as a short list VP candidate...
February 29, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rebel1 (anonymous) says...
go ahead people. keep sending these career pol to columbia and d.c. Its time to vote new people in
February 29, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
quickthought (anonymous) says...
I love Mark Sanford! I think he is doing an excellent job! May God bless the efforts he puts forth. And to those who think people are supposed to be perfect, maybe you're not reading the right Book.
February 29, 2008 at 2 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
WELL LOOKIE HERE, WE GET MORE PORTS SPECIALISTS!!!!!!!!
Doug Robertson, former chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party, has been nominated for a seat on the S.C. State Ports Authority's board of directors. Robertson, of Bluffton, is treasurer of the state Republican party.
His appointment must be approved by the state Senate.
If he is appointed, Robertson would become Beaufort County's second representative on the nine-member board.
Beaufort attorney Colden Battey Jr. also serves on the board.
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/develo...
February 29, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
SANFRAUD ABUSES HIS POWER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heads of the S.C. Department of Public Safety, S.C.Highway Patrol step down
http://www.thestate.com/557/story/332...
February 29, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
Thank you for your interest in this story. The comment thread for this article has been closed.
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- S.C. losing port traffic to other states
- Out with old ...
- Water — 'The smell is gone'
- Cart gives Buddy new lease on life
- Schools plan to update visitor-security system
- GenPhar site 'red-tagged'
- Off campus
- Man, 17, killed in motorcycle wreck
- New drug may hold promise for lupus sufferers
- Historic manor house used by Girl Scouts is among buildings that might be torn down to make way for future
