Monday, Jul. 06, 2009

GOP to discuss Sanford’s future

Gov. Mark Sanford’s secret visit to Buenos Aires that left state officials and his own staff unsure of his whereabouts has spawned a meeting today of the state Republican Party executive committee.

Members, who plan to talk via conference call, are expected to consider several options ranging from doing nothing, to publicly admonishing the governor, to calling for his resignation.

Already, a majority of state Republican senators and some Democratic lawmakers have called for the governor to step down. Some members of the public are joining in the rallying cry.

But Sanford has repeatedly said he did not misuse state funds and won’t relinquish his post.

Meanwhile, the embattled governor and his family returned to South Carolina on Sunday following a three-day break in Florida.

Sanford’s spokesman, Joel Sawyer, cited privacy reasons for not saying where in the state. Sawyer expected the governor back in Columbia by this morning.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who would serve out the last 18 months of Sanford’s tenure should Sanford resign, has also returned from a Florida trip and is back in Columbia.

The two men did not meet while in Florida, according to those close to them.

A handful of the governor’s supporters, including Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, have said the governor should stay on but that there will be a zero margin of error for the governor’s future actions.

Lawmakers say impeachment is practically impossible, considering the mechanism of state government, a shortage of state funds and the fact that the governor says he has not misused state funds.

The governor is holding on to his post following revelations of a secret trip last month to Argentina to visit his lover that left state leaders and the governor’s own staff unsure of his whereabouts. Sanford also altered details about how many times he had visited his lover and admitted to inappropriate behavior with other women.

Unlike governors in surrounding states, Sanford does not release his daily schedule to members of the media and the public. Sanford plans to begin releasing his schedule soon, Sawyer said.

Today, the governor’s staff will explore how governors in surrounding states issue their schedules in terms of frequency and formatting, Sawyer said.

Reach Smith at (803) 771-8658.

Get The State newspaper delivered to your home. Click here to subscribe.