Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler and Senate Republican Sens. Hugh Leatherman, Thomas Alexander, Paul Campbell, Jake Knotts, Larry Martin and Billy O’Dell issued a statement late Tuesday night asking for Gov. Mark Sanford to resign in the wake of his rapidly expanding sex scandal.
Crisis requires people in leadership positions to act decisively, with as much dispassionate wisdom and judgment as possible.Governor Sanford has imposed a crisis upon our state. As members of the Senate, we have a duty to the people of South Carolina to do what is in their best interests.
We therefore have concluded that Governor Mark Sanford must resign his office. He has lost the trust of the people and the legislature to lead our state through historically difficult times.
South Carolina has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Tens of thousands of South Carolinians cannot find jobs.
Necessary budget cuts have weakened public education and other vital services.
We must have strong leadership from a Governor who is focused and trusted.
Governor Sanford is neither.
We did not reach this conclusion in haste and we did not base it on his personal failings, but events since his news conference have forced us to act.
The recent revelation that he used taxpayer money to visit Argentina demonstrates that our state crisis will not recede while he is in office.
His own Commerce Department acknowledges the Governor requested additional economic development meetings in Argentina while on a legitimate trade mission to South America.
The Governor, through his spokesmen, deceived the media and public about where he was and what he was doing for several days.
He abandoned his office and the people who elected him with a premeditated cover-up, launching a constitutional crisis that was dangerous and reckless.
These disclosures indicate a pattern of abuse of office. Most disturbing is our belief that the Governor only admitted to these transgressions after he was caught.
The Governor’s family crisis is private and tragic. But the crisis the Governor imposed by his abuse of office is the people’s business and must come to an end.
We can only put this crisis behind us if he does the honorable thing and resign immediately.
The bottom line is that the Governor’s private matters should remain private, but his deception and negligence make it impossible for us to trust him, and for him to govern in the future.
Not only does this statement have the backing of the GOP leader (who pulls double duty as Medical Affairs Committee chairman), but four other committee chairmen (Leatherman – Finance, Alexander – General, Knotts – Invitation, Martin – Rules). Earlier in the day, fellow GOP Sens. Larry Grooms and Kevin Bryant also said Sanford should resign.
Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler joined the group of Republican senators on Tuesday requesting that Gov. Mark Sanford remove himself from office, with the latest self-immolation the Governor has committed in the press.
According to a story hitting the wire just after 9 p.m., “South Carolina’s Senate Republican Party leader is calling on Gov. Mark Sanford to resign. Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler of Gaffney said Tuesday’s revelations from the governor about his own affair raise doubts about Sanford’s ability to lead the state.”
Shortly after Peeler’s statement went out, Sen. Hugh Leatherman, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, also said the Governor should pack it up and go home to Sullivan’s Island (or wherever home is these days). According to a tweet from Senate Republican Caucus director Wesley Donehue, Sens. Paul Campbell, Billy O’Dell and Thomas Alexander are joining the chorus for Sanford to step down, as well.
Earlier in the day, Sanford allies Sens. Larry Grooms, Kevin Bryant and Larry Martin each said the Governor should resign in order for the state to move forward and not have the Governor’s mistakes in his personal life cause more of a problem for the people’s business.
Rep. Eric Bedingfield, another legislator close to Sanford, tweeted Tuesday night that he will officially call for the Governor to resign on Wednesday.
Action hasn’t been static on the other side of the aisle, either. Joining his Democratic colleague in the Senate, Sen. Vince Sheheen, Rep. Anton Gunn said on Facebook, “Mark Sanford clearly is not rational anymore. Time for him to go. This is a repetitive pattern of behavior from many of our statewide leaders.”
