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Sanford nightmare engulfs state

Published Wednesday, July 01, 2009 7:54 AM

By Frank Johnson and Dan Brown
The Gazette

Gov. Mark Sanford heads to his office in the Statehouse after a cabinet meeting in Columbia last week. South Carolina became the focus of national and international attention when neither Sanford’s staff nor family knew his whereabouts. Sanford returned to the state from Argentina early last week and admitted during a press conference that he had been having a year-long affair with a woman from Argentina. Sanford continues to be under pressure from some politicians and some S.C. residents to resign, but reiterated on Monday that he did not plan to do so.

Local leaders react to governor’s stunning fall -

A surreal and nightmarish week for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has put the state in the national spotlight.

The governor’s disappearance last week to Argentina led to his admission of a year-long affair with a 43-year-old Argentine woman.

The news of the affair stunned Sanford’s political supporters and opponents alike. The future of the governor, whose nationally televised press conference last week brought the state to a standstill, has been a dominant topic of debate.

Local leaders reacted to the story throughout the week.

State Sen. Larry Grooms, who is expected to file paperwork to officially become a 2010 Republican candidate for governor in the days ahead, said he spoke with Sanford on the phone.

“I don't believe he has the moral integrity to lead our state,” Grooms said. “I hope he will do the right thing (and resign). I spoke with the governor on Thursday and shared that with him.”

Grooms said Sanford had called him earlier that day, and that he returned the call Thursday evening.

“I expressed my opinion to him that ... no good can come of him remaining in office,” Grooms said. “He said, ‘Well, it’s not my intention to resign the seat. I believe I can find redemption from staying in office.’”

Grooms said the last two week have been difficult for a conservative reformist movement that he has supported for years.

“As someone who has supported much of Sanford's agenda, it was difficult for me to tell him that,” Grooms said. “I don't see what good can come out of his office right now … he's given his political enemies (the assurance) that any type of conservative agenda can not pass.

“I've been supporting the conservative reform agenda since before Mark Sanford decided to run for governor. The conservative reform agenda is bigger than one person.”

The majority of elected leaders seem to be taking a wait-and-see attitude, as the dust continues to clear from the shocking revelation, as well as the details of Sanford’s previous trips to the South American country.

“If he hasn’t done anything illegal, I have difficulty saying that he needs to leave,” Rep. Joe Daning said. “I’m sure he’s going to have a very difficult time dealing with both his family issues and the state issues. He needs to make that decision.

“It’s a tough decision, but as long as he hasn’t done anything illegal it’s his decision.”

Daning added that he’s “keeping the Sanfords in my prayers.”

“What I don’t understand,” said Moncks Corner mayor Bill Peagler, “is how somebody with so much to potentially lose would let himself get involved in something like that. I feel for his family and my prayers go out to the governor and his family that they can get through this unfortunate situation.”

As to whether the governor should resign, Peagler said that decision was up to the state’s attorney general.

“I have a problem when an elected official uses the state’s money for his own private and personal use,” he said. “What happens at this point is up to the state attorney general.”

Rep. Joe Jefferson said the decision rests with the governor’s wife.

“All I've got to say about the issue is this,” he said. "We’re going to leave it up to Jenny Sanford. I think she is going to solve the problem for us.”

“Like most South Carolinians, I’m saddened and disappointed by the news,” Sen. Larry Grooms said in a released statement. “Carol and I are praying for the Sanford’s and ask other to do the same. Through God’s grace we hope they will be able to work through this very difficult time.”

“I want to extend my heartfelt thoughts to the Sanford family during this most difficult time,” U.S. Rep. Henry Brown said in a release. “I am saddened at the news of this revelation and encourage the people of South Carolina to allow the Sanford family to deal with this matter with the privacy that each of us would hope for.”

On Sunday, Sanford told a reporter from the Associated Press that he had considered resigning, but decided against it.

For more details of the ongoing story, visit www.ourgazette.com

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