SC

Sources: Ken Ard Strikes Plea Deal, Resignation Imminent

S.C. Lt. Governor Ken Ard (RINO-Pamplico) has reached a plea agreement with the Attorney General’s office relating to an ongoing criminal probe of his campaign finance problems – a deal that will result in the state’s second-highest ranking official resigning his office within the next 48 hours. No other details…

S.C. Lt. Governor Ken Ard (RINO-Pamplico) has reached a plea agreement with the Attorney General’s office relating to an ongoing criminal probe of his campaign finance problems – a deal that will result in the state’s second-highest ranking official resigning his office within the next 48 hours.

No other details of the reported agreement were immediately available.

Sources close to the grand jury investigation of Ard tell FITS that material witnesses have been informed that their testimony is no longer required – and that prior orders compelling the production of documents and other pertinent information have been rescinded.

Those are obviously tell-tale signs that a plea agreement has been reached.

FITS reported a week ago that the Ard saga was finally drawing to a close, with multiple sources suggesting that the scandal-scarred RINO would be indicted “within the next two weeks.” One variable reportedly at play in the timing of the indictment? An intense disagreement among Ard’s attorneys over whether he should take the plea deal he was being offered or roll the dice in court.

A SC Grand Jury has been investigating Ard for several months.

S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson referred Ard’s case to the grand jury last July after an ethics report revealed that he spent tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash on personal expenses – including football tickets, iPods, a Playstation, a flat-screen TV and women’s clothing – and then lied about those expenses on his state ethics forms.

Ard has already been assessed more than $60,000 worth of ethics fines.

According to the ethics report, Ard’s illegal use of campaign funds for personal purposes was much more flagrant than originally suspected. Also, the report revealed that Ard repeatedly provided false information to investigators – fabricating an official “economic development” pretense for a family vacation to Washington, D.C. and concocting a story about buying his wife Tammy an inaugural gown as an excuse for some of the personal clothing expenses.

Ard has acknowledged using campaing funds for personal expense. In fact he did so during his initial interview with Corey Hutchins of The (Columbia, S.C.) Free Times – the reporter who broke open this scandal.

“I’ve got a vast amount of my personal wealth tied up in this campaign and I’m just trying to recoup as much of that as I possibly can,” Ard told Hutchins.

After The Free Times ran its story, though, Ard backed off of his statement. In fact, he later told the Associated Press that he had “no idea” where Hutchins got this quote. Days later, however, Hutchins released an audiotape of his interview with Ard that confirmed the accuracy of the statement.

In addition to these allegations – Ard has also been accused of running a “cash for contributions” scam in which money was given to donors in exchange for them cutting a check to his campaign.

Ard isn’t the only South Carolina “Republican” battling campaign finance issues. Newly elected S.C. Ways and Means Chairman Brian White (RINO-Anderson) was busted last year using campaign cash on personal expenses – although unlike Ard any investigation into his activities would have to originate in the S.C. House.

Needless to say … that hasn’t happened.

Meanwhile S.C. Sen. Jake Knotts (RINO-Lexington) recently received a slap on the wrist from his buddies in the “Republican-controlled” South Carolina Senate for similar violations.

It’s unclear whether Ard’s case will prompt additional criminal probes into the campaign finance irregularities of other South Carolina public officials.

We certainly hope that it does.

We also hope it will compel state lawmakers to finally begin subjecting themselves to the same standard of accountability as other elected officials when it comes to their ethics reports.

Anyway, Wilson has been bitterly criticized by Democrats for dragging his feet on the Ard investigation. Of course we’re told that he has also been slammed by Ard’s lawyers – who feel as though he is making an example of the lieutenant governor to advance his own political ambitions.

As we’ve noted previously, we’ve been displeased with the length of time that the grand jury has taken on this case – although to be fair this investigation has taken a few unexpected turns.

In the event Wilson gets a plea out of Ard that results in the latter’s resignation – without the expense and drama of a trial – we’d have to say that’s a “job well done.”

***

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79 comments

jimlewis,owb March 7, 2012 at 5:48 pm

And the Heel of Justice finds another Cockroach. Crunch!

ceilidh10 March 7, 2012 at 6:34 pm

Power corrupts.

This is the second Lt Gov who has lacked character, the second nd Lt Gov in a row to violate the law. Look at Andre Bauer and the crap he was knee deep in. Now Ard.

Wake up South Carolina—take your foot off the Republican pedal !

What amazes me is that I read these articles from FITS about how the GOP wants it to be, that is, no gubment, low taxes, school choice– and yet, you all run the damn ship and you cannot agree to anything you say you want. Nothing gets better under your leadership. You all run it but you have not realized the dream.

The gubment is all yours, all GOP, all conservative and yet the ideal government you seek has not been legislated, it is not in existence…why? Because divided gubment works best. You need Dems and GOPers to run the show.

SC is the laughing stock of the nation. Keep running it into the ground ! Go chase that unattainable dream of limited government. Ard is the first of the tragic falls you will have this year. Wait until November when it will be 1964 all over again. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Billy-Bob March 7, 2012 at 6:44 pm

Well said! +10

barker March 7, 2012 at 7:17 pm

SC House – Republican since 1994

SC Senate – Republican since 2000

SC Governor – Republican in 26 of past 38 years, soon be 28 of 40.

Congressional Delegation – 7 of 8

2 Constitutional Officers:

Officer A)Sells his office for $10K and free admission to Cockfights – Republican

Officer B)Scrambles his brain and his Office through his nose – Republican

Yep, SC is struggling from gov’t of the Left.

hhuuhh?? March 7, 2012 at 8:03 pm

Barker, that was great.

Nationally, the Republicans have had the White House for 28 of the last 42 years. And, look what we have to show for that…

How can any rational person NOT realize, if we ever take this country or state “back”, it will be from the Republicans!!!

How can people be so ignorant?

hhuuhh?? March 7, 2012 at 8:06 pm

Oops, a little off topic… my pet peeve…Consistency is the hobgoblin of a little mind.

Billy-Bob March 7, 2012 at 6:45 pm

Plea deal = resignation, no jail time

Soft Sigh from Hell March 7, 2012 at 6:55 pm

Lt.-Gov. Glenn “Bugle-Call Beauregard” McConnell, now powerless?

Kenny March 7, 2012 at 7:46 pm

McConnell the fag plays with his cannon and rifle, sword, flag poles, pencils and pens, strokes tea glasses, rattles door knobs. Other legislators hate his guts, can’t wait to jump his ass.

Green Eggs and Ham March 7, 2012 at 7:01 pm

How much money is Ken Ard owed from the Ken Ard for Lt. Governor campaign?

Patrick March 7, 2012 at 7:02 pm

Nothing because he didn’t legally loan the money to his campaign.

Roseanne March 7, 2012 at 7:02 pm

I guess he is using the stupidity defense:he was too dumb to understand the rules.

But anyone who looks closely at his ethics reports can see that he knew he was breaking the law–that’s why he reported his expenditures for his wife’s clothes as “supplies”.

Green Eggs and Ham March 7, 2012 at 7:03 pm

Patrick….really? Have you looked at the reports and know that, or did someone tell you that?

Beretta9 March 7, 2012 at 7:08 pm

The question is who told him to donate the money to his campaign instead of donate it? Probably one of those dumb fucks from Florence.

Green Eggs and Ham March 7, 2012 at 7:13 pm

Well Patrick…from your lack of response can tell you have no idea. If you did any research at all, instead of just listening to some and assume they are right you would see that on 10/2/2009 he loaned himself $200,000 and on 1/9/2010 he loaned himself $100,000. That is $300,000 the campaign owes Ken Ard. So he took 25K from the campaign? he was owed 300K, he not only paid that back, he paid back a fine. I wish people would do a little research before posting blindly on sites like this. That is what is wrong with america, speaking without knowing. A little work goes a long way.

snarky condition March 7, 2012 at 9:10 pm

You are absolutely correct.

One small detail.

IF and I say IF he had repaid himself his loan, he would have been fine. All he had to do was do it legally.

INSTEAD, he skipped the part about repaying himself and just dipped into his campaign account for a series of rather silly purchases — and then lied about it when the Ethics Commission asked. He invented a mission to Washington DC to meet with Senator Graham — and showed up with his family only to be told Lindsey was back home for the Christmas holidays. Never mind, said Ard, give me some VIP passes to the White HOuse, etc.

Green Eggs and Ham March 7, 2012 at 9:19 pm

Sure he was wrong to do what he did, but to suggest it should come to this? This is ridiculous. He paid a fine for what he did, and had to pay it all back.

betty dowling March 7, 2012 at 10:47 pm

Thanks for clearing that up…

What about March 8, 2012 at 8:19 am

Actually, if a candidate loans his campaign from personal funds, then he can only recoup a portion of the loan. If he were to have secured a loan from a bank to the campaign using personal collateral (ex; his house) then the campaign could have paid off the bank note in full.

Candidates, never do direct loans from their personal accounts to their campaigns. They always secure a bank loan to the campaign so that it can be recovered in full. That is where he messed up. He probably realized that he would never be able to recover the investment and thought he could squeeze it out another way.

Whoever advised him to loan his campaign money should be shot.

Jan March 7, 2012 at 8:03 pm

Well all I know is making all the black folk and the Hispanic folk show a picture ID before voting is going to solve a lot of what is wrong with SC. No more voter fraud.

Blackman 2day March 8, 2012 at 12:24 am

Yep Jan. All of our problems will be solved. Everyone knows that its the Black folk and Hispanic folk that keeps electing these unethical Republicans into office. And if you drill deep enough, we can blame Obama for this one also. Damn, everything is his fault. Everything was perfect before he was elected. Ain’t that right y’all?

Cid March 7, 2012 at 8:10 pm

The question is

Will McConnell resign as President Pro Tempore before Ard resigns as LG?

BradWarthenSucks March 7, 2012 at 9:53 pm

Word is McConnell already has this paperwork ready to sign when needed. Enter Lt. Governor Jake Knotts.

Smirks March 8, 2012 at 9:26 am

“Enter Lt. Governor Jake Knotts.”

This would be absolutely priceless.

Cid March 7, 2012 at 8:13 pm

A “job well done.”

You’re kidding right?

All this was known last year

And Wilson has been doing nothing but dragging his feet awaiting his orders

He ought to be impeached himself

damned either way March 7, 2012 at 8:23 pm

He’s made alot of the GOP boys mad and he did take to long so it doesn’t matter what he does now. He could never do right in the eyes of Team Blue and the GOP sees him as a backstabber.

Didn't matter March 7, 2012 at 8:39 pm

I don’t think it matters what Wilson does now. He could never do right by the Dems and the Repubs are mad he turned on his own and there’s people like me that think – I bet every one of them in office have done this. In closing… I guess he did take to long and sometimes too late is simply too late.

Doris March 7, 2012 at 8:14 pm

Will, sweetheart, General McConnell is doing all he can tonight to stop this thing from happening. We are all on overtime up here at the State House. The General has called the Queen 3 times and it’s just 8 pm. The Queen may have to get Stephanie out of some bed and get her to do a little more research. This just can’t happen, son.

LP March 7, 2012 at 9:45 pm

Right-o. McConnell’s pulling out all the stops to remain state HMFIC, Wizard of Oz. Like Dorothy, he’ll get little dog Toto (he has many Totos, like Courson and Leatherman) to bite opponents. Gonna be interesting. The Wiz…

In other words March 7, 2012 at 8:43 pm

Wilson will never be a hero. He may be trying to advance himself but this won’t do it. He has made more citizens mad with him dragging his feet and the other ones in the Pee Dee who will never vote for him (unless it’s hall monitor in hell) because of how he did Ard. Everyone knows it.. Wilson is just as screwed as Ard. Karma is wicked. Mr. Wilson I think Karma will be finding you soon.

Incredulous March 7, 2012 at 8:51 pm

Why do people care that Ard bought an iPad instead of yard signs? A dress instead of bumpers stickers? To say this is criminal, is a stretch. The Ethics Commission should (and did) handle the matter. If it had been public money, that would be different. If a candidate gives money to his campaign, does it really matter whether he lists it as a “donation” as opposed to a “loan” on his disclosure form? If the guy gave $200,000 to his campaign, has a little left over, shouldn’t he be able to recoup it no matter how he listed it on his disclosure form? I really hope there is more to the investigation than this.

In other words March 7, 2012 at 8:57 pm

That’s the way I feel. Mr. Wilson had to look like he was doing something and the Democrats found something to bitch about. Ard is a great guy and he has a lot of support. More than Wilson thinks. Wilson is in no mans land. Wilson has lost the support of the Pee Dee and beyond and many others that like Ard. Ard is a very likable guy and has done well serving this state. I truly hope Wilson enjoys his political mistakes here.

Green Eggs and Ham March 7, 2012 at 9:02 pm

Well it’s $300,000 in loans and $185,000 in donations that Ken Ard gave the the campaign. $485,000 into the campaign and he’s owed $300,000 but they are going to try to tear him down over $25,000 in which he paid BACK plus fines. This is ridiculous and if anyone thinks about it they’ll come to the same realization.

snarky condition March 7, 2012 at 9:12 pm

You are absolutely correct.

One small detail.

IF and I say IF he had repaid himself his loan, he would have been fine. All he had to do was do it legally.

INSTEAD, he skipped the part about repaying himself and just dipped into his campaign account for a series of rather silly purchases — and then lied about it when the Ethics Commission asked. He invented a mission to Washington DC to meet with Senator Graham — and showed up with his family only to be told Lindsey was back home for the Christmas holidays. Never mind, said Ard, give me some VIP passes to the White HOuse, etc.

Uncle Remus March 7, 2012 at 8:59 pm

My wife is asking that I run. She wants a new wardrobe!

Green Eggs and Ham March 7, 2012 at 9:04 pm

You got a half million dollars and ready for ridiculous ethics rules like you can’t pay for gas at a gas station?

Andy March 7, 2012 at 9:52 pm

So he resigns from being Lt. Governor. Who gives a shit? Will anyone notice?

BigT March 7, 2012 at 10:13 pm

Will the government give him all his money back???….

They have all the rights to tell him how to spend it…but the government has NO RESPONSIBILITY…

And from most of the Dumbass posts on here…people have no problem that the Government tells a person how to spend his money….

WOW!!!!

Da Boz March 7, 2012 at 10:57 pm

So you believe in the rule of law, you just don’t want rules to be part of laws. Or is it just just laws that impose on the bedroom that you like, & the ones that make it easy for enormous corporations to run our lives? Coz you can’t not want government running us at all, oh no, that would make you a Libertarian, and you say Libertarians are all really closet liberals and of the devil or whatever bullshit the Grand Wizard or the voices in your head tells you you should say about us this week. Your logic is as twisted as your bitter, demented soul, annoying little man. Why don’t you just shut the fuck up until you get both of them sorted out? Then shut the fuck up some more.

Prez Bachmann/Cain/Perry/Newt/Rick March 7, 2012 at 11:02 pm

Just another one of the stupid candidates you voted for, Dumbass. You can’t see the forest through the trees b/c your head is so far up your ass. You let the media (Rush, Fox News, etc.) tell you how to think, vote, eat, shit, and sleep. You’re a lemming.

Next time, little boy…they’re coming for your girl…the white/black/Indian/Sikh/Methodist one.

Big T = Hypocrite

Prez Bachmann/Cain/Perry/Newt/Rick March 7, 2012 at 11:04 pm

Scratch what I said. You said it better, Boz.

Cancerman March 7, 2012 at 10:40 pm

Now if the feds can do their job and rid us of Haley and put her ass in jail It will truly be a great day in south carolina.

dwb619 March 7, 2012 at 10:59 pm

Wish he would roll over and drop a dime on NIMRATA.

G Gordon Liddy March 7, 2012 at 11:05 pm

Nearly all of the above posts are very, very good. Sounds like several of you have good inside information. We will be watching you closely (for future developments, that is). A clue for you all….. don’t worry about BIG BROTHER coming, because HE is already HERE.

Blackman 2day March 8, 2012 at 12:35 am

Just keep electing these “I wear my religion on my sleeve, flag-waving, fake small government guys” Republicans and this keep happening over and over and over… We are the dumbest, most backwards state in the union. We keep electing guys with ‘R’ next to their name because they tell us that they are the real American lovers. Everyone else, (D’s, L’s, and I’s) are Communists and bad for America. And we fall for the same lies every election. The R’s keep screwing us, then convince us that it’s the D’s that did it. WAKE UP!!!

Roundup March 8, 2012 at 1:05 am

P&C, Mar. 8, 2012
Grand jury will decide Lt. Gov. Ken Ard’s fate
Eyes on Courson, McConnell

The state’s constitution calls for the Senate president pro tem — currently Republican Glenn McConnell of Charleston — to assume Ard’s job.

McConnell faced a similar prospect of becoming lieutenant governor a few years ago when some thought Gov. Mark Sanford might resign. And McConnell, whose pro tem position is considered by some to be more powerful than the governor’s, did not want to.

In 2009, he said the prospect of Sanford’s resignation “does present problems for me, there’s no question about that.” He did not return a message Wednesday.

State Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, said even if Ard is indicted, he would not have to resign or leave office until he pleaded guilty to a felony or was convicted of one, though Ard no longer would preside over the Senate while the case is pending.

“The lieutenant governor is still facing the possibility of indictment, but he’s been facing that since around October or so. It’s been many months. Something may happen. Something may not. You never know,” Grooms said. “There a lot of ‘what ifs’ that can’t be answered until the lieutenant governor is cleared or actually indicted. Everything else is pure speculation.”

McConnell could step down from his post, see Courson or another senator elected to it and then become lieutenant governor, then seek re-election as pro tem.

With three decades of seniority in the Senate and 11 years as its president pro tem in 2001, McConnell once wrote a resignation letter effective upon the lieutenant governor’s position becoming vacant. He later tore it up.

At that time, when asked about an e-mail to him from a friend objecting to his resignation, McConnell stated that he was having personal problems with a “long-time friend” and could not proceed for “personal reasons.” He refused to elaborate when the friend was identified by members of his college fraternity as “an extremely close male friend and roommate of Glenn’s.”

? Mark March 8, 2012 at 8:25 am

That last paragraph is missing from the story in the paper – did you add it or did they pull it from paper. If true that may be the most blatant mentioning by the established press regarding Glenn’s sexuality.

? Mark March 8, 2012 at 8:25 am

That last paragraph is missing from the story in the paper – did you add it or did they pull it from paper. If true that may be the most blatant mentioning by the established press regarding Glenn’s sexuality.

Petey March 8, 2012 at 9:05 am

Like McConnell’s sexuality is a surprise to anyone. Everyone knows his picture is on the 3 dollar bill.

Roundup March 8, 2012 at 11:22 am

I copied and pasted the article, early in the morning, EXACTLY as it appeared at the P&C website. Interesting you notice that P&C deleted it from its paper edition. Very curious.

Beretta9 March 8, 2012 at 3:02 am

I meant who told him to donate the money instead of make it as a campaign loan? I hear there are some really sharp political minds in Florence who give all sorts of funked up advice.

Guido "3 fingers" Sarducci March 8, 2012 at 4:22 am

hANG THE BASTARD!

RINO March 8, 2012 at 4:29 am

I watched McConnell preside over the Senate yesterday. Things were very loose, and the Senators joked about a lot of stuff, while quickly doing the Senate’s business. It was quite a different atmosphere in there.

Sick of politics March 8, 2012 at 6:59 am

So from what I am reading McConnell wants the “perks” and “title” of the job, but not the responsibility that come along with those perks? Correct me if I am wrong here. Sounds like SC will be getting more of the same if all of this does happen. Give me a break here. The SC republican party is so screwed up they don’t know how to turn around!

tdaly March 8, 2012 at 7:04 am

These guys aren’t republicans most of them were democrats until the 90’s than switched to get elected but they still vote and act like liberals.

Jan March 8, 2012 at 9:57 am

I love it. Republicans are in control of everything in the entire state, both houses and the governorship and its still the Democrat’s fault.

It can’t be our ideas don’t work, so it must the the closet democrats that are causing the problem. I have lived in this state my entire life and I have never seen it more screwed up than it has been since Republicans took over everything.

Dr. Politicians March 8, 2012 at 8:19 am

As Ard quietly drifts away, Nikki will be cuffed at the mansion. Not by the Feds, she just likes it that way.

Dr. Politicians March 8, 2012 at 8:20 am

BTW, when is Templeton repaying the state for all of the days of work she missed that year?

shifty henry March 8, 2012 at 8:27 am

Is she still on sick leave? Or am I missing something?

TK March 8, 2012 at 9:08 am

Dude’s a dumbass. Resignation is thinning out the political gene pool.

Whatever March 8, 2012 at 9:13 am

He will be a millionare over and over again when his book comes out, don’t think that makes him a dumbass. This is going to open the political floodgates of HELL in SC politics!!!

Whatever March 8, 2012 at 9:32 am

Book signing should be held Nov 1st of this year, right before election time. Then, the big screen movie. This will make the history books and no, I don’t think Ard is the dumbass here, nor do I think if this happens he will drift away quietly. Just my opinion. After all, he does need to recoup his money he wasted on this political BS.

?=! March 8, 2012 at 9:53 am

This explains the MSM at The State running the story yesterday re-hasing Ard’s past problems.

JustCallMeAva March 8, 2012 at 10:40 am

Y’all really didn’t think that this GOP-controlled state was going to take down Ken’s biggest supporter and a stalwart of the GOP (a certain FloCo doctor) with him now did you?

BTW how in hell did y’all convince the redneck hicks in this state to consistently vote for the party that will screw them over every which way from Sunday and back and make them believe it would be good for them? Oh right, keep education at “minimally adequate” levels and they’ll never realize they’re being screwed. Well-played GOP, well-played.

STFU March 8, 2012 at 10:44 am

The poetry of pious irony and chaos that Lt. Gov Knotts would impose on this State is just too entertaining to not relish.

If you needed a smoke screen to keep people from focusing on the other burning scandals that would be really well done.

Will the Admiral sign the purity pledge before he steps up, will Cindy and Demint focus the Truth on all this as the beginning of the end for Trikki. Charleston is such a different place, I think this is a great diversity angle for our State.

Embrace this, so much of what Mark was allowed to skate on, wax based on Andre being a fucking idiot.

Give Knockie or Glenn or anyone else in line a chance, really, how muchworse can it be.

My understanding of Glenn is that he is a supposedly openly homosexual practicer of alternative sexuality, that his constiuents have accepted this, along with his love of Conferedate history, which he practices again openly with other Senate re enactors like Double Dip Thomas, and that for the most part he resides over the Senate because he is a very bright lawyer.

I say let him be Gov., Ard goes down, no pun intended here, then Kingfish takes out Trikki and Glenn can step up and Knockie can be Lt. Gov.

Seriously how much worse can it get.

The Pension scandal alone will need a good lawyer to figure out the angles and charges.

I think it is time for a true Confederate Ghost to take over this State.

Embrace the horror, cause we voted for this, this is what the SC GOP has given us.

Andre would never have believed that you could fuck a chick in another country and get away with it, never.

Look at what Trikki has done so far, do we even know the half of it, and you tell me that Glenn is to be scared of , simply because he practices sexual acts I don’t.

Orgasms are private as long as it is consenual. If it is a sin, I say let God deal with Glenn later, meanwhile we need some smarter people, and I think Glenn is smarter.

Tinys Truck Stop March 8, 2012 at 11:15 am

Huh?

Ian, Casey, Zane, Miles, Sandy, Edith & Paige March 8, 2012 at 3:04 pm

Lawyers, legislators: Quiz time please !!

If Glen McConnell leaves senate to become Lt.Gov., how long is he Lt. Gov.?

Is he legally required to become Lt.Gov.?

What happens if he refuses?

If GM becomes Lt.Gov., who is the new president pro tem?

If GM becomes Lt.Gov. and later then wants to be senator again, does he lose seniority and can’t become president pro tem?

How much power do those two offices have?

How much salary and so on is involved?

What does Gov. Haley want to happen?

What does House of Representatives want?

whatever March 8, 2012 at 3:39 pm

He should be legally required to take the position. After all, thats in part of the job description that goes along with his title.

shifty henry March 8, 2012 at 3:50 pm

Why not Groucho, Harpo and Chico

Soft Sigh from Hell March 8, 2012 at 6:20 pm

Would McConnell take the Lt.-Gov. job if he thought the governor might soon be removed or move on?

Rutledge March 8, 2012 at 7:48 pm

No. In S.C., governors have term limits and legislators don’t. McConnell’s two-dimensional life consists of (1) the Confederacy and (2) his position as Senate President Pro Tem. He has no other hobbies, has no close friends (that we know of), doesn’t attend his church, is unmarried, and has lived with his mother, sister and brother since childhood.

Most S.C. SPPTs get to that position very late in life. For instance, L. Marion Gressette (R-Orangeburg), born 1902, became SPPT in 1972 at age 70 and served 12 years, until his death in 1984.

McConnell, 64 years old, entered the legislature in 1980 (32 years ago) and was elected SPPT in 2001 at the ripe age of 53, so he’s been SPPT for 11 years — the youngest SPPT in S.C.’s history.

If becoming Lieutenant Governor would guarantee McConnell more (and lifetime) clout than he now has (hard to imagine), he would do it.

Otherwise, not.

Something like J. Edgar Hoover: we’re not dealing with a normal person here.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Glenn F. McConnell
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 41st district
In office 1980 –

Personal details
Born December 11, 1947 (age 64)
Charleston, South Carolina
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) N/A
Profession Attorney
Religion Episcopalian

Glenn F. McConnell is a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 41st District since 1980 and currently serving as President Pro Tempore.

McConnell was one of several South Carolina politicians credited with playing a key role in getting Boeing Co. to announce plans to build a 787 Dreamliner assembly plant in North Charleston, S.C. in October 2009.

However, in the months since the deal was announced, there has been growing questions about just how much the company was promised in incentives. Originally, it was estimated that the incentives package offered to entice Boeing was believed to be approximately $450 million.

Analysis by the South Carolina Policy Council and the Post and Courier have revealed that it’s either not clear how much incentive money the company will receive or state leaders aren’t being forthright in their disclosures regarding details surrounding the deal.

In fact, the Post and Courier estimated that Boeing will receive more than $900 million incentives, which would easily exceed the $750 million the aviation giant has agreed to spend on the new plant if accurate.

In addition, McConnell and fellow state Sen. Hugh Leatherman asserted that an analysis of the deal by the S.C. Board of Economic Advisors “was provided to the members of the General Assembly, and that analysis showed that with the projected income tax from the plant and its employees alone would more than pay for the incentives and would result in a net gain to our economy,” according to the South Carolina Policy Council.

But a random check by the Policy Council of 10 legislators — Republicans and Democrats, prominent lawmakers and back benchers — indicates that members of the Legislature in fact did not receive such a cost-benefit analysis.

According to an October 2010 report by The Nerve, McConnell recorded salary and expenses of $133,529 for the 2.5-year period from Jan. 1, 2008, through mid-2010, making him the highest-compensated legislator in South Carolina during that period.

Penelope March 9, 2012 at 4:40 pm

Rutledge you do good research. But, think of this. If McConnell were to be elevated to Queen Nimrata’s position, he could fill her unexpired term then run twice more – up to 10 years. That would make him 72, a pretty good retirement age, don’t you think?

Rutledge March 9, 2012 at 10:26 pm

Penelope,

Should McConnell become governor due to Haley’s indictment (possible) or impeachment (unlikely), he’d complete her term but wouldn’t survive a Republican primary or a general election because too many other, younger, and more attractive candidates are de facto running for that post right now.

McConnell never aspired to anything more than President Pro Tem, and the occupational risk of that position is today’s turn of events, removing him from the senate. McConnell knows he’d fail in a gubernatorial race and in fact is quoted today expressing a desire to ultimately return to the senate.

McConnell’s constituents have re-elected him for 32 years not because they like him but because of the power he has amassed, such as, most recently, funding for the Ravenel Bridge, Highway 526, and dredging Charleston harbor.

An unbalanced and unfair amount of DOT funds has been controlled and spent by McConnell and Leatherman in their districts, which has fostered great resentment among other districts and their senators, particularly other REPUBLICAN senators.

Now McConnell is legislative history and his senate peers are free to treat him like a doormat — as he has treated them.

Financially, at age 65, McConnell is set for life with his senate pension. He hasn’t had a primary or general election campaign challenger for over two decades, and has over $400,000 in his campaign account, more than any other senator. This serves to dissuade any challengers.

Without challengers, McConnell spends nothing on re-elections, coasts to victory and his campaign chest grows like a tree.

For instance, during the six months ending 11/06/08 (the last election), he received $23,600, mostly from PACs, and virtually NOTHING from District 41 constituents.

Of that amount, during that same period, he spent $2,730, most going to charities. Peanuts.

CONTRIBUTIONS

$1,000 American Council of Engineering Cos. of S.C. PAC
$1,000 Enterprise Rent-a-Car Company PAC
$1,000 Finpac Independent Consumer Finance
$1,000 Friends of Farm Bureau PAC
$1,000 International Paper PAC
$1,000 Mulholland, Angela B.
$1,000 Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
$1,000 Outdoor Advertising Association of S.C.
$1,000 Palmetto Leadership Council
$1,000 S.C. Assn. of CPAs PAC
$1,000 S.C. Chiropractor Assn.
$1,000 The Southeastern Spine Institute LLC
$1,000 Titlemax A/P
$1,000 UnitedHealthCare Services, Inc.
$1,000 Walgreen Co.
$1,000 S.C. Automobile Dealers Assn. PAC
$750 S.C. Retail Merchants Assn. PAC
$600 Flooring, Services Inc.
$500 BP North America Employee PAC
$500 Eli Lilly and Co. PAC
$500 Gramling Brothers Real Estate Development, Inc.
$500 IFA PAC of S.C.
$500 Mead Westvaco
$500 Publix Supermarkets, Inc.
$350 Templeton, John S.
$300 S.C. Fraternal Order of Police PAC
$250 Allison Dailey Properties, Inc.
$250 Bills, Aimee
$250 Classic Remodeling & Construction, Inc.
$250 Commonwealth Insurance Groups, LLC
$250 Rex Thompson Homes of Chas., BFH Builders LLC
$200 Edwards, James B.
$200 Fabrizio, Jason R.
$200 SCOA PAC State/Local
$100 Barber, James A.
$100 Carolina Custom Security & Sound, Inc.
$100 Commercial Real Estate Capital, Inc.
$100 Pendley Construction, Inc.
$100 Regional Material Handling & Supply, Inc.
$100 S.C. Nursing Home Assn.
$100 Seamon, Whiteside & Associates, Inc.
$50 Shingler Jr., Sidney H.

$23,600 TOTAL

EXPENDITURES

$600 Pet Helpers, Inc.
$500 Charleston Animal Society
$440 Island Life magazine
$440 Island Life magazine
$300 Charleston Read & Romp, Reach Out and Read S.C.
$200 Southern Education Foundation
$150 Birth Sholom Beth Israel
$100 Muscular Dystrophy Association

$2,730 TOTAL

Finally, hopefully, McConnell won’t try to retake his District 41 seat — partly because it was redrawn last year to include part of Dorchester County, which he has conspicuously (“obnoxiously,” according to one elderly resident there) ignored. This inattention has not gone unnoticed by those new constituents, who will soon elect his replacement.

Soft Sigh from Hell March 8, 2012 at 6:22 pm

If I were Nikki I’d want Lt.-Gov. Knotts. No one would want her deposed then. Well, no one fully sane AND fully toothed.

Doris March 8, 2012 at 7:42 pm

It’s official. John Courson will be the Lt. Gov.

SCBlues March 8, 2012 at 7:46 pm

FITS – What is your definition of “imminent”?

Billy K Mulligan March 8, 2012 at 9:19 pm

Where is Cahalay in all of this?

Incredulous March 8, 2012 at 10:32 pm

The buffet.

Leon March 8, 2012 at 9:44 pm

As this goes down, Robert is eating a cheeseburger “all the way” with potato chips, Doritos, those little goldfish thingies, and then Oreos. After that, more cheeseburger … you know … repeat …

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