Sanford returns to Sullivans Island home

By CLIF LeBLANC - cleblanc@thestate.com

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Gov. Mark Sanford is with his family following the startling confession that he has been having a yearlong extramarital affair with a woman from Argentina.

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer told The Associated Press Thursday the governor was with his family at their beach home on Sullivans Island. First lady Jenny Sanford and the couple's four sons have been staying at the house.

Sanford flew from downtown Columbia’s Jim Hamilton-L.B. Owens Airport about 8:15 a.m. in his brother’s Mooney four-seater, sources familiar with the flight told The State.

Gov. Mark Sanford in a news conference at the State House on Wednesday.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford explains his six-day absence and extramarital affair to members of the news media in Columbia.

- Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford explains his six-day absence and extramarital affair to members of the news media in Columbia.

- Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com

CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS

Story: Other governors embroiled in affairs
Story: State House leaders shocked
Story: Sanford met in Atlanta after returning from South America
Story: Timeline: How the story unfolded
Story: Chat, Tweets and video of Sanford news conference
Gallery: Sanford's news conference: Governor admits affair
Link: [Commentary] First Jon and Kate, now Sanford
Link: VIDEO: Sanford admits affair
Story: Exclusive: Read e-mails between Sanford, woman
Story: E-mails detail intimate affair
Story: First lady: Reconciliation possible
Story: Presidential dream dead, observers say
PDF: View Thursday's historic front page of The State newspaper
AP Video: Bottom line: Sanford in trouble
survey:

Should Gov. Mark Sanford resign as South Carolina's governor?

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Your vote has been counted, thank you for voting.
Gov. Mark Sanford

Age: 49

Residence: Governor’s Mansion, Columbia; and Sullivan’s Island, in Charleston County

Family: Wife, Jennifer Sullivan Sanford; four sons, Marshall III, Landon, Bolton, Blake

Occupation: Governor

Place of birth: Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on May 28, 1960, the eldest of four

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Furman University, 1983; master’s degree in business administration, University of Virginia, 1988

Work experience: In finance in New York; on family plantation in South Carolina

Political experience: U.S. House, 1995-2001; elected governor, Nov. 5, 2002; re-elected, Nov. 7, 2006

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STRONG AT THE POLLS

Republican Gov. Mark Sanford’s record at the polls:

’02 GOVERNOR’S RACE

Incumbent Jim Hodges, Democrat: 521,000 votes

Challenger Mark Sanford, Republican: 585,000

’06 GOVERNOR’S RACE

Challenger Sen. Thomas Moore, Democrat: 489,000 votes

Incumbent Mark Sanford, Republican: 601,000

ALSO ...

FUNDRAISING: Sanford entered his 2006 re-election bid with an $8 million war chest.

A SECOND TERM: In 2006, Sanford became the first S.C. governor to win re-election since 1999.

— Roddie Burris

The plane carried the governor, his brother John and a third person believed to be a security guard, one of the sources said.

A flight plan was not filed and there was no conversation with the tower, neither of which are required at that airport, one of the sources said.

The first lady was not with the governor Wednesday when he admitted at a news conference he had been in Argentina during his unexplained absence from the state. Both have said they plan to try to reconcile.

Sawyer says Sanford has spent the past two days touching base with other elected officials and has personally apologized to his staff.