S.C. Lt. Gov. Ken Ard is being investigated by the S.C. State Ethics Commission for multiple campaign finance irregularities involving more than $20,000 in campaign cash that was spent after his victory over Democrat Ashley Cooper in November.
The story was first reported on Monday afternoon by Corey Hutchins of The (Columbia, S.C.) Free Times.
According to the Hutchins’ report, Ard spent campaign money on “airline tickets, hotel tabs, restaurants, computer equipment, gas, media, coffee runs, phone bills and mail.”
Obviously, there’s a way all of those expenses could be considered campaign-related – but the amount of money involved (and the timing of the expenses) are raising eyebrows. In fact, Ard’s campaign finance issues drew an unusually pointed response from the S.C. State Ethics Commission, which is tasked with enforcing our state’s campaign laws.
“It seems like the man can’t eat a meal without putting it on his campaign account,” SEC attorney Cathy Hazelwood told The Free Times.
Ouch. That’s typically the sort of rhetoric you hear coming from a rival candidate, not a government bureaucrat.
Needless to say, Ard was not our first choice for the Republican lieutenant gubernatorial nomination last summer. His record on taxes and (government) spending is abysmal, and from what we’ve seen his desire for reform is about as limited as his intellectual curiosity.
Which is to say “very …”
Additionally, Ard showed extremely poor judgment by selecting one of the central figures in the infamous “Coastal Kickback” campaign finance scam to serve as his chief of staff.
Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that Ard now has campaign finance problems of his own …
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By Bauer is a tough act to follow January 31, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Come on now FITS, the sole purpose of the Lt. governor is to provide entertainment to our states unwashed masses.
Ard has a long way to go to measure up to Bauer’s antics…but he’s showing early on he’s going to do his best.
With a name like “Ard” which is ripe for all sorts of fun name games I predict that he will fulfill the role of court jester of SC quite nicely thank you.
By Jeffy01 January 31, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Ok Boz………4,567 words on they way
By Old Bike Dude January 31, 2011 at 9:58 pm
20 to 1 absolutely nothing comes of this.
By can't outrun the truth January 31, 2011 at 10:13 pm
I wonder if the Ard family vacation over Christmas was on the campaign tab?
Ashley Cooper shoulda won, hands down.
By Rubric January 31, 2011 at 10:18 pm
“…the S.C. State Ethics Commission, which is tasked with enforcing our state’s campaign laws.”
State’s biggest whore house after the Brothel and Control Board.
Not to worry, Ken!
Give Hazelwood a wet kiss and she’ll wash your dirty laundry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46bBWBG9r2o
By OMG January 31, 2011 at 10:30 pm
“It seems like the man can’t eat a meal without putting it on his campaign account,” SEC attorney Cathy Hazelwood told The Free Times.
We-e-e-elll.. la-de-freakin’-da! … ok that is actually a pretty damned awful statement coming from Hazelwood…
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach February 1, 2011 at 7:03 am
I was wrong.
I thought Myrtle Beach City Councilman Randal Wallace was the weakest link. It’s obvious now that it’s really Ken Ard.
Or at least, he’s the most high-profile weakest link.
Sorry to disappoint, Jeffy01. Saving some words for the book.
________________
Boz Martin
http://facebook.com/wmbozmartin
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach February 1, 2011 at 7:08 am
oops! Should have been:
http://www.facebook.com/williambozmartin
email is wmbozmartin@gmail.com
Anyone “in the know” who has information to share concerning the Ard/Branham connection, or any other info that pertains to “The Coastal Kickback” scam/scandal, please get in touch. You name will NOT be used unless you give express permission.
By Big T February 1, 2011 at 8:14 am
From the Article: “Needless to say, Ard was not our first choice…..”
Seems like you are saying that about er’body you rip….I guess your endorsement may be the Kiss of Death….Not to mention the SEC attorney using that type of confrontational language, yet no charge has been leveled, should raise a Red Flag.
It seems w/ democrats getting their #$%es kicked at the Ballot Box, they are now using campaign financing laws to get even, while their real criminals walk. I don’t care how he uses the money. To act as if you can anally examine every dollar is like expecting stinky not to be toilet worthy….
By Jeff February 1, 2011 at 8:26 am
Another ONE of our finest BACK-ASSW-ARD South Carolina politicians!
By Sunni Cepid February 1, 2011 at 9:21 am
Of course nothing will come of it. They have to keep that good ‘ol boy in place so when the next Tricky Nicki scandal comes along and impeachment comes up, they will have one of their own ready to shove into office. Why do you think he got there in the first place!
By James Is February 1, 2011 at 9:57 am
Check out his ethics report. Looks like he spent a bunch of money in DC and a hotel room in Atlanta the night of the SEC Championship
By conservative1 February 1, 2011 at 10:08 am
Regarding the coastal kickback, Branham is at the center of an FBI/IRS investigation. The FBI does NOT investigate for no reason.
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach February 1, 2011 at 10:17 am
Sunni, you’re partly right. Nothing much will come of it from the SCEC, itself. That’s a given. If there has ever been a “fox guarding the henhouse” type of group in SC, it is them.
But increased attention on Ard, and his probable connection to his Chief of Staff Brant Branham’s part in the pay-to-play scam by the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce known as The Coastal Kickback (or Chambergate) … well, that’s another story. Especially if a good bit of that attention is coming from the Feds.
As for Nikki, I don’t think she’s in as much peril as some people think. Whatever happened between her and Sic (and nobody that I know who was active in Columbia political circles at that time doubts that SOMETHING was going on), it is receeded further into the the past. BIG difference between that and what happened with Sanford, where it all unfolded publicly while it was going on. And … um … he served out his last term didn’t he?
Could it make her a “one and done” Gov? Possibly … but not all that probably. She can always play the “I’ve re-dedicated my life to the Lord” gambit. Works every time on religious fanatic SC GOPers. Coming from someone of a different ethnicity and a different religious tradition, hey, that’s even more powerful to those types. Why do you think they give money to missionaries? Oh, lordie, she could play them like harp on that, and her family would forgive her, no problem. The rest of us never gave a crap in the first place, and that won’t be a deciding factor on whether or not we vote for her. Please don’t be fooled … there are a hell of a lot of “the rest of us” in SC.
I do agree, though, that Ard was planted where he is by the Good Ol’ Boys. For the reason you state. Follow the money, follow the money, follow the money … you get the idea. I’m just not so sure that it will all play out the way they expected, because he if far too stupid to give them their money’s worth. Case in point, his choice of Branham. That’s not even smart from an Horry-centric point of view, given Brant’s baggage.
In case you haven’t noticed, lots of things have stopped going the GOB’s way recently.
An EXELLENT trend, in my opinion.
By I Tried to Tell you February 1, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Is anyone really surprised by this, considering the guy is a total doofus? Ard. Short for ruh-tard. Should have voted for Ashley Cooper. duh duh DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach February 1, 2011 at 7:02 pm
lol
Just got a “Google Alert” for my own post, above. That’s actually a first. I was reading it it and thought, “Hey that’s some juicy stuff right there!” lol
By Scooter February 1, 2011 at 7:27 pm
Those that continue to kick around Andre have very limited free time for fun. Really. The only thing that people keep bringing up has to do with speeding (and raise your hand if you never broke the speed limit!). You guys make me laugh. Compare that to what your old Gov or new Gov did, and lets see who has the worst record. Ha! Get a little control on your emotions and get over very old news. Lets look at the current crop and see how well they are doing.
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach May 11, 2011 at 5:11 am
Ken Ard will yet be shown to be, like his Chief of Staff Brant Branham, up to his crooked eyeballs in the Coastal Kickback scam.
It becomes clearer as we near the Grand Jury time, that the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce case will prove a useful microcosm of US Chamber of Commerce crony capitalism abuses and violations of the public trust.