Sanford to reveal schedule details
By: By RODDIE BURRIS
Published: Fri, 07/03 @ 12:01AM
Gov. Mark Sanford will begin making his schedule available to the public and the media, his office said Thursday, a marked departure from the way the office has operated the past 6½ years.
Sanford’s office routinely has resisted disclosing the governor’s daily plans, often citing security concerns.
However, documents obtained by The State show Sanford had a growing habit of shedding his security detail to leave the Governor’s Mansion, departing solo 38 times last year and 39 times so far this year, including his recent trip to Argentina.
“Under the circumstances, the governor clearly understands the need to be more transparent about his schedule (than) what he has done in the past, or (than) what is required by law,” said Joel Sawyer, Sanford’s spokesman.
“You can expect that he will do so.”
Sawyer did not provide further details of how Sanford’s schedule would be publicized.
Sanford’s whereabouts, and his unwillingness to release his daily schedule, became issues after last week when he dropped out of contact with his office and security, with other state leaders, his family, and the public as he secretly traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Governors around the country have since taken pains to make it clear they are accessible, in touch and on a schedule.
Governors in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida all publicize their schedules.
Among the ways they disclose their whereabouts are to put their schedules online, distribute them to the media and e-mail them to members of the public who requestthem.
While security is always a consideration, it is not a sufficient reason to be secretive, said governors’ offices in neighboring states.
“Public events are public events,” said Bert Brantley, communications director for Georgia Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue. “There’s always that (security) concern, but you be as safe as possible.”
Brantley said the Georgia governor does not release minute-by-minute details of such things as arrivals or departures, or his schedule weeks in advance.
“But if we were going on a trade mission, for example, we would put out a (media) schedule for the whole event,” Brantley said. “We fully know the media is not going to be there, but they should know.”
In North Carolina, first term Gov. Bev Perdue, a Democrat, puts out a schedule by e-mail each week. Spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson said Perdue’s security detail is highly-trained, therefore they don’t think releasing a public schedule is a threat.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican, releases his schedule for the upcoming week each Friday, said Crist spokesman Sterling Ivey, and also posts the schedule on the governor’s state Web site.
He said neither security concerns nor too much detail should hinder a chief executive’s contact with the voters.
“Gov. Crist strongly believes government should operate in as open and transparent a manner as possible,” Ivey said. “He strongly believes the people are the boss, and they elect him.”
Reach Burris at (803) 771-8398.
@Nyx.CommentBody@