A surreal and nightmarish week for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has put the state in the national spotlight.
The governor’s disappearance last week to Argentina led to his admission of a year-long affair with a 41-year-old Argentine news reporter.
The news of the affair stunned Sanford’s political supporters and opponents alike. The future of the governor, whose nationally televised press conference last week brought the state to a standstill, has been a dominant topic of debate.
Local leaders reacted to the story throughout the week.
“What I don’t understand,” said Moncks Corner mayor Bill Peagler, “is how somebody with so much to potentially lose would let himself get involved in something like that. I feel for his family and my prayers go out to the governor and his family that they can get through this unfortunate situation.”
As to whether the governor should resign, Peagler said that decision was up to the state’s attorney general.
“I have a problem when an elected official uses the state’s money for his own private and personal use,” he said. “What happens at this point is up to the state attorney general.”
Rep. Joe Jefferson said the decision rests with the governor’s wife.
“All I've got to say about the issue is this,” he said. "We’re going to leave it up to Jenny Sanford. I think she is going to solve the problem for us.”
“Like most South Carolinians, I’m saddened and disappointed by the news,” Sen. Larry Grooms said in a released statement. “Carol and I are praying for the Sanford’s and ask other to do the same. Through God’s grace we hope they will be able to work through this very difficult time.”
The majority of elected leaders seem to be taking a wait-and-see attitude, as the dust continues to clear from the shocking revelation, as well as the details of Sanford’s previous trips to the South American country.
“If he hasn’t done anything illegal, I have difficulty saying that he needs to leave,” Rep. Joe Daning said. “I’m sure he’s going to have a very difficult time dealing with both his family issues and the state issues. He needs to make that decision.
“It’s a tough decision, but as long as he hasn’t done anything illegal it’s his decision.”
Daning added that he’s “keeping the Sanfords in my prayers.”
“I want to extend my heartfelt thoughts to the Sanford family during this most difficult time,” U.S. Rep. Henry Brown said in a release. “I am saddened at the news of this revelation and encourage the people of South Carolina to allow the Sanford family to deal with this matter with the privacy that each of us would hope for.”
On Sunday, Sanford told a reporter from the Associated Press that he had considered resigning, but decided against it.
For more details of the ongoing story, visit www.berkeleyind.com