SC

Lawmaker Pays Wife To Do Campaign Accounting

|| By FITSNEWS || S.C. Rep. Chip Huggins pays his wife to do his campaign accounting … out of his campaign account, no less.  How much?  It’s not immediately clear as some of the payments involve reimbursements for various campaign expenses. In 2014, FITS tracked at least five separate payments…

|| By FITSNEWS || S.C. Rep. Chip Huggins pays his wife to do his campaign accounting … out of his campaign account, no less.  How much?  It’s not immediately clear as some of the payments involve reimbursements for various campaign expenses.

In 2014, FITS tracked at least five separate payments from Huggins’ campaign to his wife, Ginger Huggins, totaling $9,000.

Most of those expenses contain the notation “see receipts.”  According to Ginger Huggins – who worked in the administration of former S.C. governor Carroll Campbell – she and her husband followed the specific instructions of ethics regulators in reporting the payments.

“We disclosed everything,” she told FITS. “We’re not trying to hide anything.  We’re good people.  We’re not going to do the wrong thing.”

Ginger Huggins added she is providing accounting services to her husband’s campaign at below the market rate.

“I should be paid more than I am,” she said.

Both Chip and Ginger Huggins described themselves as typical middle class taxpayers.

“We’ve got loans, we’re putting two kids through school,” Chip Huggins said.

Last October another state lawmaker – powerful S.C. ways and means chairman Brian White – was criticized for routing $20,000 worth of campaign money to a foundation and a charity associated with his wife, Courtney White.  Legislative misuse of campaign funds is also the focus of a new investigative report by the Center for Public Integrity in conjunction with The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier.

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34 comments

Crooner September 28, 2015 at 3:39 pm

How creative!

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Oink September 28, 2015 at 3:44 pm

Why do all of these good old boy politicians in SC have giant fat heads?
It’s like they are literally turning into the pork they love so much.

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totally Fed UP!!! September 28, 2015 at 5:31 pm

Looks just like the guy who squealed like a pig in the movie Deliverance!
I doubt he squeals, he probably moans!

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nitrat September 28, 2015 at 7:16 pm

He really does look like a young Ned Beatty…if Ned Beatty was ever young.

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Tobago September 29, 2015 at 2:45 pm

Maybe we could do a local remake of “Deliverance”?
Huggins as Ned Beatty character.
Who would play others?
John Voight?
Burt Reynolds?
Ronnie Cox character?
The two red neck Hillbillys who corn holed the Ned Beatty character?
Respond below.

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Former Dem. September 29, 2015 at 3:11 pm

Larry Martin could play the retarded hillbilly banjo player.
Luke Rankin could plat Ronnie Cox.

Dot September 29, 2015 at 5:56 pm

Perfect for those “Redneck Hillbillys” who porked Ned Beatty and made him squeal like a pig. Our very own SC Hillbillys, Harvey and Bob Peeler, or Curtis Loftis and Yancy McGill.
All we need is Voight and Reynolds.

Amy September 30, 2015 at 4:51 am

Don’t leave out Eckstrom. He could play one of the hillbilly rednecks.
Metts is probably playing Ned Beatty already, while in the Federal Pen.

Government Spying Everywhere September 28, 2015 at 3:45 pm

They need a criminal defense lawyer.

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LD September 28, 2015 at 3:48 pm

Not as easy as everyone would think, but unless there are a lot of transactions– a few hundred dollars is all it is worth. But, at least his reports are getting filed timely and it is reported — unlike a few other elected officials.

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Bible Thumper September 28, 2015 at 4:39 pm

Why is there a pic of Haley? It’s a negative story. Oops. Never mind.

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Send Haley Back to India. September 29, 2015 at 5:41 pm

Haley is an anchor baby. She should go back to India.

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9" September 28, 2015 at 4:44 pm

That’s the way she looks when she’s going down

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Bible Thumper September 28, 2015 at 4:48 pm

So. Every time there is a story about CDV, there should be a pic of Will?

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Hope September 28, 2015 at 4:53 pm

I just looked at his report. He paid his wife $1,000 for “cakes.” Who pays an EVEN GRAND for cakes?

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shifty henry September 28, 2015 at 5:15 pm

*******************

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dwb619 September 28, 2015 at 9:23 pm

All depends on the caliber of the “ta-tas’ that come with the CAKE!

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Santiago Ledbetter September 28, 2015 at 6:57 pm

Don’t hate the playas, hate the game.

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ELCID September 28, 2015 at 7:04 pm

Not convinced.

Chip Huggins is an outstanding representative for Lexington County.
I don’t see anything in this article that appears to be illegal or even seemly.
It’s just a perception that we have that all politicians are somewhat crooked.

Chips not crooked. He has not tried to use his position for his own benefit, like another Lex. Representative has recently done.

Unless there is proof of an illegal act, then do not attack Chip Huggins on who he pays to do his accounting. Which is massive for a politician considering all the regulations and paper work that must be filed all the time.

Chip works hard for Lexington County and the people of SC. On a pay per hour basis, he works for penny’s. If you want to see him about anything, he’s always available in his office. Or, just catch him every Friday at Irmo’s Lizard’s Thicket making the rounds of all those having Breakfast. A great guy: really.

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nitrat September 28, 2015 at 7:14 pm

This is nepotism and a husband directly supervising a wife would not be allowable almost anywhere in government.
Campaign accounts, who knows?

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nchuckler September 28, 2015 at 7:54 pm

Wonder why Will just didn’t meet him the Lizard’s Thicket and ask him about this?

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totally Fed UP!!! September 29, 2015 at 8:24 am

Thanks Mrs. Huggins. We all appreciate your defense of your husband.
This is up with this crap over and over. Apologist idiots for these jackasses!

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ELCID September 29, 2015 at 11:49 am

I’m not Mrs. Huggins, so you must be the the south end of a north bound mule.!!

Some fools would rather throw dirt than look at the facts. No laws have been broken and Huggins is a good representative.

This is all about the election. Chip has someone running against him for the first time in a long time. Because, Chip is so good he normally runs unopposed. If you don’t like him, go vote against him. But, I doubt you even vote. Just shoot off your digital mouth.

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Mark September 28, 2015 at 7:22 pm

People, there are real acts of fraud, waste, abuse etc that affect the taxpayers in a mega-way! Lets focus on that stuff, not this little stuff that just is not important.

We are letting the criminals have free reign while the good elected officials are terrified every time they spend a nickel.

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ScickOfStupid September 29, 2015 at 6:56 am

Wrong, stupid. Learn to read. The law is the law, unless you’re GOP.

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JJ September 28, 2015 at 7:26 pm

I used to hold office. Keeping up with the crazy assed Ethics rules in this state aint worth any amount of money. So many grey areas, so many forms, and one mistake and you are painted like Bonnie and Clyde in the paper…pay her double that and she is worth it!

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SickOfStupid! September 29, 2015 at 6:53 am

If you’re too stupid to be able to read with comprehension, you’re Too Stupid To Hold Public Office, Stupid.

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Federalie September 28, 2015 at 7:46 pm

We pay Queen Haley’s husband! Oh, right… he couldn’d make it selling her clothes…
Well, under Justice Toal, ignorance of the law makes a fine excuse. Here in SC ignorance really is bliss. Ethics!?! What ethics? We don’t hab no ethics. We don’t need no ethics! I don’t hab to show jou any stinkon ethics!!!

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michelle September 29, 2015 at 10:45 am

Couldn’t make it with his barter, wink wink, business either.

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dwb619 September 28, 2015 at 9:26 pm

In the mean time I am chilling to I tunes with Greenville’s “Cravin Melons” singing ’bout sweet tea.
Beach Music, Harley Davidsons, retirement direct deposits,the lakes almost full.
Lifes good!!!!!!!!!!!!

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dwb619 September 28, 2015 at 9:34 pm

That dress NIMRATA wears so much reminds me of Carol Burnett and her “curtain rod gown”.
My apologies to Carol.

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Half wit September 28, 2015 at 10:22 pm

It’s clearly a conflict of interest. The politicians are so fucking stupid it’s scary.

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Tim September 29, 2015 at 11:50 am

It is not clearly a conflict of interest.

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Jack's lack of focus September 29, 2015 at 9:30 am

Yea, I truly don’t see anything wrong with this if she is an accountant or qualified bookkeeper. He could hire a CPA, pay them a crazy amount and kick himself back some cheese if he wanted. There is plenty of stuff to be going after, this is not likely one of them.

You may not like the guy’s politics but he is a decent man.

Reply

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