Dear Editor,
Paul G. Campbell, Jr., 73, is not only a powerful state senator, he is also the executive director and CEO of the Charleston County Aviation Authority and has been since 2013. The Aviation Authority is responsible for overseeing the Charleston International Airport, the Charleston Executive Airport and the Mount Pleasant Regional Airport. Sen. Campbell is paid $300,000 as head of the Aviation Authority in addition to the compensation he receives as a state senator.
Campbell was recently in the news as he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) after rear-ending another vehicle on I-26 in North Charleston. The victim claimed Campbell traded seats with his wife after the collision, which Campbell denied. For this, Campbell was also charged with furnishing false information to the police. At the time of the incident, Campbell served as chairman of the state senate legislative ethics committee.
It was recently reported that Campbell may have violated state ethics laws by using his powerful political position in an attempt to avoid the charges. Campbell reportedly handed the victim a business card identifying himself as a state senator. The victim claims Campbell told her “I’m a state senator … I want you to be sure you’re clear and I’m clear.” He also reportedly told the responding trooper that he was “good friends” with the trooper’s boss, Colonel Christopher Williamson, the commander of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Both charges against Campbell were eventually dismissed.
The false information charge was dismissed without any apparent reason and the DUI charge was dismissed on a legal technicality as Campbell is alleged to have asked for independent blood alcohol testing which was not provided by the trooper in contravention to state statute. A civil lawsuit against Campbell was settled for an undisclosed sum.
On July 23, Arnold Goodstein, 75, the Aviation Authority’s attorney since 1998, was awarded a $650,000 contract to continue as their contract attorney for the next two years. Goodstein was charged with a DUI in Charleston County in 1980. Two years later Goodstein was reprimanded by the Supreme Court of South Carolina for professional misconduct for tampering with material evidence. In 2010, Goodstein declared personal bankruptcy claiming $61 million in debt.
On July 25, it was reported that the Aviation Authority hired Spencer Pryor, formerly a spokesperson for the North Charleston Police Department, as deputy director and chief of communications at a salary of $165,000. Pryor was making $68,000 a year as a part-time employee of North Charleston before he joined the Aviation Authority. Pryor is the brother of Charleston County councilman Teddie Pryor who previously served as chairman of the Aviation Authority. Teddie presently works for the City of North Charleston as a project manager and reports to Mayor Keith Summey who coincidentally is also a board member on the Airport Authority. Spencer joins two other deputy directors on the Aviation Authority, Hernan Pena and Doug Boston, each earning $193,000 and $185,000 respectively.
By comparison, the average teacher’s salary in South Carolina is $51,000. Police officers make about the same. The average salary for firefighters and paramedics is closer to $45,000.
Sincerely,
Brooks Davis
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