More Sanford-Sembler Drama

By FITSNews || There may be a good reason why S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has been playing both sides of a controversial $134 million “Mega Mall” incentives package for a politically-connected developer – he apparently has obligations that go both ways.

On the one hand, Sanford borrowed an airplane a few years ago from the developer who is aggressively pushing the deal.  On the other hand, he took campaign cash for his reelection from the developer who is aggressively opposing it.

Decisions, decisions …

As it stands now, sources within the governor’s office tell FITS that Sanford remains committed to vetoing the legislation, which would provide GOP heavyweight Mel Sembler’s company with massive tax breaks to build the “Mega Mall on the Okatie,” a 280-acre, 1.5-million-square-foot retail facility in Beaufort County.   As we have noted on many previous occasions, we oppose this deal vehemently.

How come?  Four reasons …

First, this developer has a poor track record when it comes to these sorts of public-private partnerships.  Second, the incentives being offered in this case are of dubious legality.  Third, this facility will do nothing but cannibalize sales (and ultimately jobs) from existing, homegrown retailers who aren’t getting multimillion dollar handouts (but who will most assuredly have to pay for this one).

The fourth reason is the most fundamental to our opposition, though – the fact that government shouldn’t be picking winners and losers in the marketplace.  Period.

Our readers overwhelmingly agree with us, too.   According to the results of a FITS poll published last week, 91.5 percent of respondents oppose the Sembler handout, while just 8.5 percent support it.

While Sanford is on the record opposing the deal, his actions behind the scenes paint a different picture – one of a conflicted politician who wants to have it both ways.  For example, after the governor reportedly told several lawmakers that he wouldn’t “hurt” them if they voted to override his veto, he is now actively lobbying behind the scenes in an effort to get them to do just that.

Crazy, huh?

One reason for Sanford’s schizophrenia may be the fact that the governor feels obligated to both Sembler and Stan Tanger, the former CEO and Chairman of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, which is opposing the Sembler handout.

Back when Sanford still had dreams of becoming president, Sembler – a former GOP fundraising chieftain and two-time U.S. Ambassador – was one of the governor’s high-value targets.  In fact, sources within the governor’s office tell FITS that there was a quid pro quo between Sanford and Sembler last summer whereby the governor agreed to refrain from using his bully pulpit against this legislation and let the bill become law without his signature.

In exchange, Sembler was said to have agreed to support Sanford’s presidential bid financially.

Previously, Sembler loaned the governor his airplane for a 2007 Reform SC fundraiser featuring Jeb Bush.

Obviously, this alleged deal didn’t last very long, though. Sanford’s presidential aspirations imploded last summer when he was caught lying about his whereabouts as part of an effort to conceal an affair with his Latin lover, Maria Belen Chapur.  Subsequent investigations into other abuses nearly cost the governor his current job, while his sustained P.R. meltdown has gone into the books as perhaps the worst response to any scandal … ever.

Of course Sanford is not without his debts on the other side of the ledger, specifically a $3,500 contribution to his 2006 reelection campaign from Stan Tanger.

Here’s a record of that contribution:

(Click to enlarge)

And while $3,500 obviously isn’t enough to sway a politician with a bank account as big as Sanford’s, sources tell FITS that the governor – who will be looking for a job next January and (unlike his wife) needs the money – has been seeking to parlay his veto of the Sembler bill into either gainful employment or a stake in a Tanger development once he leaves office.

Yeah …

A few years ago, we never would have believed such a rumor.  Today?  It wouldn’t surprise us in the least, sadly …

Yet even before the myth of Sanford’s purity was shattered by the Chapur scandal, the governor had a history of getting involved in development deals on behalf of his campaign contributors.  Two years, Sanford found himself embroiled in scandal when he alleged that a developer competing against one of his contributors was a “womanizer.”

Ironic, isn’t it?

The debate over the Sembler handout continues this week in the S.C. Senate …