There was a brutal report in Thursday’s editions of The Greenville (South Carolina) News by reporter Conor Hughes assailing the record of local sheriff’s candidate Hobart Lewis – one of six candidates vying to fill the seat that was vacated by the conviction of former sheriff Will Lewis on a misconduct in office charge earlier this year.
According to Hughes’ report, Hobart Lewis – who finished in third place in the 2016 Republican primary for sheriff of Greenville – was “reprimanded multiple times” during his ten years as an officer with the Greer, S.C. police department.
Lewis was an officer in Greer from 1994 through 2004, at which point he ostensibly resigned “to work as an HVAC mechanic.”
A staunch social conservative, Lewis’ campaign Facebook page is peppered with references to his faith and his family – along with promises to “bring true, conservative leadership and genuine integrity” to the Greenville county sheriff’s office. During debates, he has repeatedly invoked his campaign for sheriff as part of “God’s plan” for his future – and one of his social media accounts references how he has been “called to serve in law enforcement.”
In filing for office last month, Lewis posted a picture of himself standing alongside his wife – noting that he felt “blessed by God to have my wife by my side for this special moment.”
(Click to view)
(Via: Facebook)
Laying it on pretty thick, isn’t he?
This news outlet does not think less of candidates for making such religious pronouncements. Certainly, elected officials must draw a clear separation between church and state in discharging their official government duties, but candidates for office are well within their rights to invoke whatever conception of the Almighty they choose as a means of soliciting votes.
And while these socially conservative solicitations do not move the needle with us (we prefer to hear about qualifications and policy proposals), it could be argued such overtures are smart politics in Greenville county. The economic and cultural heart of the Upstate is home to a large evangelical population – one that turns out in droves to vote in Republican primary elections.
There is an obvious flip side to that coin, though. Staking out such positions can be fraught with peril – particularly if candidates who invoke their religion in search of votes have skeletons in their closets which potentially open the door to allegations of hypocrisy.
Does Lewis have such skeletons?
Hughes’ report noted that in 2002 Lewis was formally reprimanded by his superiors in Greer for making an “improper reference to portions of the female anatomy” while on the job.
This improper anatomical reference resulted in him participating in “mandatory sexual harassment training” prior to receiving an “oral reprimand.”
“I have certainly used some foul language when on a call or fighting with somebody or whatever,” Lewis told Hughes. “It’s never happened again.”
Never?
Ever?
Really?
Hughes’ report also uncovered a 1999 reprimand against Lewis for “unsatisfactory job performance” despite the fact he previously received “multiple verbal warnings” related to this issue. That reprimand led to a two-day suspension.
Did Hughes’ miss Lewis’ biggest issue, though? According to our sources, yes.
Multiple Upstate law enforcement personnel have told this news outlet that Lewis’ departure from the Greer police department in 2004 may not have been completely voluntary – hinting at something the two-time candidate reportedly disclosed to his future superiors at the Greenville county sheriff’s office prior to being hired there in 2010.
(Click to view)
(Via: Greer Police Department)
“GCSO leaders were made aware of an acknowledged relationship between Lewis and a female subordinate at Greer,” a former sheriff’s office employee told this news outlet earlier this month. “They chose to ignore it and hire him anyway.”
The employee who put us onto this particular scent told us they reached out “because Hobart is doing all that Bible thumping.”
“You can’t do that when you have these types of skeletons,” the employee told us.
This news outlet has been provided with the name of the female officer with whom Lewis is alleged to have engaged in the improper relationship during his time in Greer, however we are declining to publish it at this time. According to our sources, the female officer acknowledged the alleged affair when she was hired by Greenville county prior to Lewis.
“She told them she had engaged in an affair with a sergeant at Greer,” our source said.
Regular readers of this news outlet are well aware we have broken many law enforcement sex scandals over the years – and we make it a point not to rush to judgment in covering any of them.
“What officers choose to do with other consenting adults on their own time and in the privacy of their homes is none of our business,” we noted.
Our only caveats? That officers refrain from bringing their affairs into the workplace – and that they not engage in affairs with subordinates.
Oh … and that they not be hypocrites about their conduct.
Stay tuned … we look forward to publishing several additional stories in the days ahead related to the candidates currently campaigning in the upcoming special primary election (including some curious contributions reportedly made by frontrunner A.T. “Tommy” Smith, widely believed to be the frontrunner in the race).
The first round of voting will take place on January 7, 2020. If no one garners a majority of the ballots cast in that race, a runoff between the top two GOP vote-getters would be held on January 21, 2020.
The special election itself is scheduled for March 10, 2020.
-FITSNews
WANNA SOUND OFF?
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our stories? Please feel free to submit your own letter to the editor (or guest column) via-email HERE. Got a tip for us? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE. Want to support what we’re doing? SUBSCRIBE HERE.
(VIA: GETTY IMAGES)
1 comment
Keep an open mind as to where you may satisfy a person and stay clear of falling under a scarcity state of mind around dating,” advises Quinn. “If your recent dates have been a bust, it’s very easy to end that you have actually just missed out on the boat on dating. You might fulfill the love of your life, make a lifelong good friend, or enrich your life with new perspectives. The other habits that I need to highlight in reviewing what irritates men in dating entails females wanting to guys to make them really feel quite. Following this all-natural order tends to make females better and extra protected in the connection. Date better today. Earlier this month the resource said, ‘Scarlett is anticipating co-hosting the Today program in a few weeks because she assumes it will certainly be a great deal of enjoyable. The 40-year-old actress co-hosted Today with Jenna and Friends today, and on Tuesday’s episode she shared that lately discussed the principle of ‘ghosting’ to her child Rose. Say you have actually gotten on a terrific very first date where they’ve made a significant initiative, yet you know in your heart you’re far better suited as friends. Your buddies are a reflection of you, and you’re still attempting to excite your potential new sweetheart, so it’s just natural to be uncertain regarding bringing everybody with each other.
Once you’ve stood out of possible new companions, it’s time to learn more about each various other a little bit a lot more. Remember, constructing confidence takes time, so be person with yourself as you expand right into a much more ensured version of that you are. Wolff even disclosed that Hamilton asks him for guidance about who he must date. A single man has asked for dating advice after being denied several times in quick succession – and he absolutely got what he was looking for. A great method isn’t almost being active. This felt like a huge error, however it’s an excellent one. This set’s an excellent one. Discussing how tough it was to locate souvenirs with their names inscribed on them as youngsters, she shared: ‘A pair of years earlier, we remained in Montauk out in Long Island and we went to among those surf store areas, and there were two mini keychain surf boards. I just had this discussion with my 10-year-old child concerning ghosting due to the fact that there was this little kid that liked her, and afterwards she wasn’t really feeling the very same,’ she claimed. How do you finish a discussion if you’re selecting up red flags or intend to leave?
Listen, I really appreciate the interest but to be sincere with you I’m an elderly ready to relocate and graduate to an additional city and I’m unsure I intend to get entailed with anything today,’ her next message read. In response, Amelia wrote that she was not looking to ‘obtain involved’ in a connection right now. Case in factor – one Zen broadband study located that being honest, clear, and dedicated were rated the leading valued attributes in a charming connection. Stop being desperate, simple,’ someone composed. He quit me and gave me one of the shop organization cards when I went to leave the shop. And he most definitely obtained what he asked for – with over 840 replies, some gave him pungent objection, while others believed he had not been doing anything incorrect. In one message, which was in between him and a woman called Amelia, he asked her if she wished to see a football game.
Goodmorning,’ he created. ‘I was questioning if you had an interest in selecting me to see a football game tomorrow its a sporting activities dining establishment at 3pm? The X individual then published one more string of messages between him and a secret woman, as he asks her how it’s going. You’re hopeless I can tell from the messages. In culture currently, discovering the person for you can be just one swipe away. She motivates bearing in mind of the lessons you’ve learnt more about what kind of person you wish to be with, yet attempting not to be too hasty in judging a person. Things you are not ready to endure, tolerate, approve, or compromise on. They called time on things once more in July 2013, which triggered Scherzinger to break down in tears throughout her time on the X Factor evaluating panel. He told me all these things that you would not ever divulge on a first date. The F1 star had satisfied Scherzinger at the MTV EMAs in 2007 and they were with each other for 20 months but split for the very first time in January 2010, before later resolving.
“If your recent days have been a bust, it’s simple to wrap up that you have actually simply missed the boat on dating. The other habits that I require to highlight in reviewing what frustrates males in dating entails women looking to people to make them really feel quite. Date much more effectively today. Say you have actually been on a great initial day where they’ve made a big effort, but you recognize in your heart you’re better suited as friends. A solitary male has pled for dating recommendations after being denied several times in fast sequence – and he absolutely obtained what he was looking for.