It’s been one of the hottest rumors in Columbia over the summer – that S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is planning on postponing his political retirement to run for State Treasurer in 2010, an office he would not only easily win but could easily turn into an extension of his efforts to reform South Carolina’s out-of-control spending practices.
The State Treasurer casts one of five votes on the S.C. Budget and Control Board, a quasi-executive, quasi-legislative branch of government that is unique to our ass-backward state. Two of those votes are legislative (represented by the House Ways & Means Chairman and the Chairman of Senate Finance), while the Governor, Comptroller General and State Treasurer are independently-elected.
Dubbed the “five-headed monster” by its detractors, the Budget and Control Board is the state’s largest, most powerful (and most wasteful) government agency, overseeing billions of dollars in state assets, contracts, salaries and investments each year and holding the exclusive power to implement across-the-board budget cuts during revenue shortfalls such as the one South Carolina is currently experiencing.
Sanford briefly enjoyed a 3-2 “fiscal conservative majority” on the Budget and Control Board last year … until former State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel resigned after being indicted on federal drug charges.
The legislature then elected one of its own – Converse Chellis – to fill Ravenel’s seat, thus regaining its “big government” majority.
When we checked up on this, Sanford’s office reminded us that the governor has said on several occasions that he will not seek elected office when his second term as governor ends in January, 2011, but those statements haven’t dampened the speculation surrounding this scenario one bit.
Part of that is no doubt because Chellis is largely unknown statewide and extremely unpopular among those outside the legislature who do know him (despite the fact that he’s spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on public service announcements in an effort to boost his visibility).
Sources in Newberry County tell FITSNews that Chellis was recently refused an opportunity to speak at a local GOP event given his atrocious voting record on fiscal conservative issues.
“This is Mark Sanford country,” the source reportedly told Chellis, “and until you stop voting with those porkers and start voting with the governor you’re not welcome to speak here.”
Chellis is clearly in for a dogfight to keep his office one way or another, but a source close to his office tells us that if Sanford signals he’s running, Chellis will likely step down at the end of his term rather than subject himself to certain defeat.
Obviously this is a situation we’ll continue to monitor … but in the meantime tell us what you think by taking our poll below.ÂÂ
Do you think Mark Sanford will run for Treasurer?
- It's possible (36%, 52 Votes)
- No way (32%, 46 Votes)
- Yes, he'd be crazy not to ... (32%, 45 Votes)
Total Voters: 143
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By GnuBerry September 15, 2008 at 1:49 pm
“This is Mark Sanford country…”
Sanford lost Newberry 2-1 his last primary.
By Johnny Utah September 15, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Sanford could use this as means to accomplish one of his biggest goals. As Treasurer, he would certainly bring additional incentive for the legislature to dissolve the B&CB. I don’t know if the other members (save Eckstrom) could handle another four years of his presence.
By waterdog September 15, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Without a chef, yard men, SLED drivers, a car, and a free house, lots of other staff there is no way he could do it. However, yhis is one way to get the General Assembly to get rid of the Budget and Control board.
By HP September 15, 2008 at 2:10 pm
“…don’t know if the other members (save Eckstrom) could handle another four years of his presence.”
…….
EXACTLY why he should do this. If you can’t be a tightwad, get outta the bank!
By Gillon September 15, 2008 at 3:37 pm
What a great idea. And considering how well George W.Bush has also handled economic issues over the last few years, maybe it could be arranged so that he could also stay on as Secretary of the Treasury when his term expires.
By Nick September 15, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Awesome….I hope he does do it.
By Pole September 15, 2008 at 5:04 pm
After the vicious attacks waged against him by the Governor’s cronies, could you really blame Chellis for not cooperating with the Governor?
By Johnny Utah September 15, 2008 at 5:42 pm
@ HP: that was the point of the comment.
By HP September 15, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I know JU — I finally get this stuff. Yeah!!!!
By Haywood Jablome September 15, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Not only did he lose Newberry County 2-1, but he lost to a nobody as an incumbent Governor. Your source in Newberry is about as accurate as your claim that Sanford is even considering this. There is no way the Sanfords are going to stick around Columbia if they don’t have a Governor’s Mansion to live in. And to them, I say good riddance.
This post alone, takes all validity away from this website. Who is your source? Jimbo the Crackhead who thinks Mark Sanford is the clerk of the Shell Station where he buys his deuce-deuces?
By HP September 15, 2008 at 7:20 pm
You know you’re good, Sic One, when you draw out buttholes from the Newberry County woodwork. Sic ‘em. Again.
By Stroker Ace September 15, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Not sure that it would happen, but rest assured the BCB makeup would be altered to trump that, since he would have to announce in March of the election year, and the legislature would be in until June. I could easily see Harrell and McConnell appointing 1 ex-officio member from the House and Senate as the Speaker and Pres Pro Tempore’s appointee, giving them 7 people and in all likelihood 4 votes at all times.
By Carl September 15, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Chellis is just a finger puppet! I hope Sanford does go for it.
By HP September 15, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Stroker Ace>>SA>>Smart A55,
We’re not interested in technicalities. We want action.
By forced to contribute September 15, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Sanford is an idiot. Remember CNN? Just give him some cocaine and he will be fully qualified to be our treasurer!
By chellis will destroy Sandford September 15, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Are you crazy? Converse is the bomb. We all were his tennis shoes. Converse could probably win any seat he wanted. Including President. If you really knew him, you would know that he is a fantastic politician.
Converse has my vote for anything. I can’t believe that McCain picked Palin over Converse. Converse is “white” hot!
By reggie September 15, 2008 at 10:38 pm
i really dont think it would make much sense for him to run, but i also think that it is possible. i mean, it seems like a step DOWN from governor to treasurer, but im not allowed to vote…
By Pole September 16, 2008 at 2:19 am
Chellis will, put down the crack pipe, it’s gonna be ok.
By Ron September 16, 2008 at 7:47 am
The South Carolina General Assembly and Converse Chellis is symptomatic (the greed and corruption)of what’s going on in the economy right now with Fannie, Freddie and Lehman bros etc. For Gov Sanford to run for Treasurer of SC would in my view be as great or greater service to the hard working citizens actually than his having been in Congress or the Governor of SC. Now if we could get a couple of “big names” to go after McConnell, Harrell and Leatherman (the three biggest rinos in Columbia), then maybe we could accomplish some “real reform” of SC government and perhaps even undo our unconstitutional budget deficit.
By waterdog September 16, 2008 at 8:43 am
Ron:
There is no “unconstitutional budget deficit”. Per SC Law the Comp Gen tapped reserve funds (put there for this purpose) to balance the books for the year that ended June 30. As for the current year if the BEA lowers its revenue estimate the B and C Board initiates cuts (which they did) to reduce spending to the level of revenue. That is how the law works. You may not like it, but is not “unconstitutional”. Chellis is a nice man and is hard working and honest. He represents greed no more than you do. Now, go drink your kool aid. You sound like one of these blind followers of Sanford who doesn’t realize that he and Jenny sit around laughing at how some of you are stupid enough to “buy and swallow” his act lock stock and barrel. He plays you for fools.
By NY September 16, 2008 at 9:31 am
Well, to cite Palin’s oft-used phrase: “Thanks, but no thanks.”
By ~ September 16, 2008 at 2:57 pm
By Sic One’s highly scientific polling procedures, Guv is maintaining a 70+ percent approval rating as a tightwad.
By Ron September 16, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Waterdog!
You sound like one of those blind followers of McConnell, Harrell and Leatherman. They play you guys for fools. They’re “liberal republicans”!
By James September 16, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Waterdog: So you think a “mid-year” budget cut in the second month of a year is lawful? When a legislature approves a budget and the ink hasn’t dried and already has to take a blunt ax to their budget, not only is it an unlawful document, it demonstrates their STUPIDITY and inability to govern…or maybe we should all just go along with your legalese and buy into the notion that Jake and gang are just bad with math.
To state the obvious: the unlawful aspect is the fraudulent estimate used for general fund revenues.
Do we have an Attorney General in this State?
By Pres September 18, 2008 at 12:30 pm
The whole article is laughable. But the most laughable part is that Newberry county is “Sanford country.” I would argue he is the most unpopular statewide official in Newberry. Thats even though they dislike Andre.
By anonymous March 19, 2009 at 6:42 pm
THOMAS RAVENEL DRUG CASE RESURFACES
FOURTH CO-DEFENDANT IDENTIFIED
“Pascal Etcheber”, a French citizen
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A French citizen has been charged with lying to the FBI during the drug investigation into former South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, and a federal prosecutor said Thursday the suspect may flee the country like another defendant in the case.
Pascal Etcheber, 45, was arrested Wednesday and charged with making false statements to federal agents, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said.
Etcheber is accused of lying about drug use and possession to the FBI and immigration officials during the investigation into Ravenel, who pleaded guilty to buying cocaine for himself and to share with friends. Ravenel was sentenced to 10 months in prison and is scheduled to be released from a halfway house next week.
Etcheber is being held in jail awaiting a detention hearing Tuesday. Prosecutors think he is a risk to leave the county if he is released on bail, McDonald said.
That happened once before. Charleston-area wine expert and Italian citizen Pasquale Pellicoro has been on the run since he was indicted on a conspiracy charge in September 2007.
McDonald said officials continue to look for Pellicoro.
Federal agents also are still looking at the drug activity around Ravenel nearly two years after he was indicted on cocaine possession charges.
“The investigation remains open. Other charges could be forthcoming,” McDonald said.
http://www.thesunnews.com/575/story/8270...