Governor Mark Sanford To Return to Work Wednesday
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Governor Sanford To Return To Work Wednesday
Governor Mark Sanford says he will return to his office Wednesday given the circumstances and attention his trip has garnered.
Published: June 23, 2009
Click on the video tab above to see Chris Cato’s hilarious take on the Governor’s disappearance.
**Tuesday 11:56am Update**
Senator Glenn McConnell issued the following statement:
“Based on the recent news coverage concerning the Governor’s absence from South Carolina, several issues have arisen concerning the impact of a sitting Governor leaving the State and the Governor being incommunicado for an extended period of time. Also troublesome was the Governor’s decision to leave his security detail behind. While we can all sympathize with Mark Sanford’s need for rest and relaxation these are issues that are bigger than a single person and fundamentally affect how we operate as a state government should there be a crisis or an emergency that requires prompt action and response. This is vitally important in post 9-11 world.
The Constitution currently provides as follows:
“In the case of the removal of the Governor from office by impeachment, death, resignation, disqualification, disability, or removal from the State, the Lieutenant Governor shall be Governor. In case the Governor be impeached, the Lieutenant Governor shall act in his stead and have his powers until judgment in the case shall have been pronounced. In the case of the temporary disability of the Governor and in the event of the temporary absence of the Governor from the State, the Lieutenant Governor shall have full authority to act in an emergency. (1972 (57) 3171; 1973 (58) 48.)”
The problem with this section of our Constitution is that the term “temporary absence” is not defined so that there is no bright line measure of how to determine in an emergency whether the Lt. Governor is authorized to act in the Governor’s stead. That is why I am proposing a bill that would provide a definition to the term “temporary absence” so that we can ensure that the government continues to operate in a smooth and continuous manner and that we are also protected in case of an emergency.
While I am confident that the Governor’s staff was sincere in their view that they would consult with other leaders before making any decision in case of an emergency, I can take no solace in the fact that unelected staff would be making grave and important decisions in case of an emergency during the Governor’s temporary absence. The people at the ballot box have voted to put their faith in those they elected to handle such emergencies. Those elected have sworn an oath to do those jobs in accordance with the Constitution and laws of this state. In an emergency, it should be those people who consult with staff to make a decision and not the other way around.
Finally, it concerns me that Governor Sanford has with him no security. Again I understand this Governor and other Governors need free time and personal space. However, that desire has to be weighed against the duties and responsibilities of the office of Governor and what that office represents. The federal government came to the decision that the Presidency was more than just the person occupying the office. There was just as much importance to the office itself. For that reason, the federal government mandates that the President must have police protection.
I believe that the office of Governor is too important as a symbol for our state and too necessary during times of emergency to risk something happening to the person who serves as Governor. Being Governor has its own inherent risks apart from the high profile position that he holds. The Governor must make decisions that could anger any number of people who could want to exact retribution. For those reasons, that is why I plan to introduce legislation similar to the federal law that mandates security coverage for the Lt. Governor and Governor so as to protect the order of succession in South Carolina and our ability to handle emergencies in our state.“
**Tuesday 9:43am Update**
Governor Mark Sanford says he will return to his office Wednesday given the circumstances and attention his trip has garnered.
Governor Sanford called to check in with his Chief of Staff Tuesday morning according to communications Director Joel Sawyer. Sawyer says Tuesday “it would be fair to say the governor was somewhat taken aback by all of the interest this trip has gotten.“
Sanford’s office revealed Monday night the governor has been hiking along the Appalachian Trail.
Sawyer says he will not be doing any interviews with reporters on Tuesday.
The mystery of the missing Governor is now solved. The location of Gov. Mark Sanford had been unknown since Thursday of last week, when The State newspaper reported Sanford left the Governor’s Mansion in a black SLED Suburban SUV. But Monday night, his office released a statement saying Sanford was “hiking the Appalachian Trail”.
Joel Sawyer, spokesperson for the governor, said, “I want to emphasize that this isn’t something that either staff or Mrs. Sanford is concerned about. As we said earlier today, it isn’t unusual for the governor to be out of pocket for several days after the legislative session. We knew he would be difficult to reach, and that he would be checking in infrequently. Given the media attention this has generated, we’ll obviously update you once we have some more specifics to pass along.“
First lady Jenny Sanford told The Associated Press earlier Monday her husband has been gone for several days and she did not know where, but she was not concerned.
The AP went on to report that Jenny Sanford claimed the governor said he needed time away from their children to write something.
Several legislators contacted Monday evening say they were “concerned” over the governor’s disappearance, but were also concerned about who was running the state. Lt. Governor Andre Bauer said Monday night that he had not been contacted by the governor’s office, and that as long as someone was in contact with the governor, Sanford was still in charge. Sanford’s office says that was never an issue. Lt. Governor Andre Bauer talked to WIS-TV Monday night. “If the Lt. Governor of the state can’t get in touch with the governor of the state that’s not a good system to have in place”, Bauer said.
Bauer released a statement to Politico.com that said he called Sanford’s office and requested an “immediate phone conversation with the governor.“
Bauer said the request was denied and Sanford’s Chief of Staff didn’t know the governor’s whereabouts. Sanford’s spokesman said they tried to call the lieutenant governor “and he didn’t call back”.
Do you buy the story being told by Governor Sanford’s office? Read Amy Wood’s blog and vote in the BLOGPOLL
The State and The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Reader Reactions
Governor Sanford is one of the few bright spots on the political scene whether it is at the state or national level. It would not matter if he stayed at home or took a hike because the vast majority of SC politicians don’t have the good sense to follow his lead as proven by their stand on the stimulus money. Gov. Sanford is an easy target for gossip fodder no matter what stand he takes, or what he does. He is a man of principle, one who is not concerned with winning a popularity contest, but rather with doing the right thing. Did the state of SC fall apart or secede from the union while he was gone? Does anyone actually believe he could not be reached in time of emergency? Please, get a grip!!!
Once again, our egotistical governor has embarrassed our state. We have had enough of this man’s elitist attitudes, especially toward public education. If I missed three days of work without notice to my supervisor, I would be rightfully fired. Let’s go ahead and put Andre or Gresham in the job now and send Governor Sanford on a permanent hike.
Give it a rest people. If you had been through the struggles he has been thru lately then you would need some time for prayerful reflection also. Even though it was not disclosed, I am sure there were those in his administration who knew how to contact him. He had a plan should an emergenct arise. I dont think we need more legistation to tell the Governor how he should act, what he can and cant do - good grief… he just got told that basically he has no power because he opinion can be over rode by the legistature. give it rest he’ sure not getting one.
Dereliction of duties to walk away - for SIX DAYS and take no security personnel with you. Tell no one where you are. Refuse to disclose where you are going to be or for how long. Negligently leave and refuse to conscientiously and appropriately transfer power to the Lt. Governor. REFUSE TO TELL THE LT. GOVERNOR WHERE YOU ARE GOING - OR FOR HOW LONG. Refuse - or so your “wife” suggests to even - before, during and after Father’s Day weekend - even tell your wife where you were - or what you were doing.
And that, by the way, I don’t “buy” - no wife or husband is going to absent themselves with children still at home from each other for days on end and refuse to be available - each for the other - in terms of being there for family emergencies, needs, cares to tend to, etc.
Come on - the Gov has needs and needs to sneak away and absent himself from life in secreted a fashion without taking proper and care to explain it all - beforehand? Let him quit.
He is the head honcho of a state - and he is ACCOUNTABLE to the entire citizenry and most especially to the Lt. Governor who was left in an unacceptable position of having to admit even he knew not a thing - and had no power or authority to do a thing - with a “runaway” negligent governor he is supposed to be closely and collaboratively working with 24/7.
No way is this within the scope of accepted public leader behavior.
Quit if you want to be left alone. Short of that - you erred HUGELY in negligently doing that which you chose.
Why is it that when Pres Obama does something or say something the public doesn’t like he is crucified burnt put out to dry. When Mr. Sanford does something the public say it’s Ok he needs a vacation. Pres Obama took his wife out for a date and he was bad mouthed and everything else. The GOVERNOR is missing without a clue and its Ok he just needed a vacation. Come on people let BOTH of these men do their job and let them enjoy a moment away from their job also. Don’t we?
President Obama can spend $250,000 on a “date night,“ but people complain about spending money trying to find a man that has every right to a few days to himself! What a crazy nation we live in! The Senator has every right to go where he wants & it’s certainly his business how he spends father’s day week-end! Does the media have nothing important to report! And what is the “hidden agenda” of our complaining political leaders? I suppose they never have a couple days vacation! And as to an emergency situation, why do we have a Lt. Gov?
Why is it everytime someone does something that the press doesn’t like, they crucify them and then eveyone else jumps on the bandwagon without all the facts! I thought this was a country founded on innocent until proven guilty. Evidently not where the news media is concerned! Gov. Sanford has done a good job for this state and just maybe when the history is written people will take the time to read it and understand. Maybe if Lt. Gov. Bauer had answered his phone, then he would have been in the loop.
I say leave the man alone, he is a human just like we are and he needs me time , and I am sure his wife knew where he was, why must there always be drama when a man wants me time? The man deserves time to himself know matter who he is, so people leave the man alone!
I don’t think much of him anyway so I’m not surprised. He probably just did all this to get the attention he sems to thrive on….
Something just dont sound right with this.
1st Why would a dad want to be away from his famliy on fathers day. Being the Governor somebody should know where he is at all times. Wouldnt it have been easy just to say your going to take a trip. This man had the nation worried where he was. And for the Obama bashers. Obama spent his own money on his date with his wife. And everybody knew where he was. Who is the person to write Sanford up for no call no show. Governor Sanford thats job ABANDONMENT. And you have to wait for your unemployment to kick in.
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