Indigo Journal

Drake calls on constitutional officers to remove Sanford

Posted on 27. Aug, 2009 by Tim Kelly in SC Politics

Throw another way to rid ourselves of Mark Sanford into the mix.

Democratic gubenatorial candidate Dwight Drake just held a press call in which he called on the state's attorney general, treasurer, comptroller general and secretary of state to act on their own authority to remove the governor from office.

Article 4, Section 12.2 of the state constitution gives a majority of those officers the power to remove a governor from office should he be unable to perform the duties of the office. The lt. governor would assume office.

Should the governor object, the General Assembly must meet within 48 hours to decide the matter.

“It's time for bold leadership to end this nightmare and get back to creating jobs,” Drake said.

The constitution does not specify what “unable” means. Drake, familiar with the provision from his work in the 1970's for Governor John West, said the language was deliberately left open to interpretation by legislators.

Asked if he believed Sanford might be mentally incapacitated, Drake said, “Whether it's spiritual, mental or whatever, this fellow is unable to do his job.”

“Since July he's taken more vacations than Elizabeth Taylor at her best, and he's gone on an 'apology tour,'” Drake said. “But the number one job for a governor is jobs.”

Drake said it's unlikely anyone with a major economic development prospect looking at the state would take that prospect to meet with Sanford.

Drake also raised further questions about Sanford's use of state and private planes.

“He's said these private planes were a gift,” Drake said. “If so, he has to declare it on his taxes – we're going to need to see his taxes. Other state officials have gone to jail for failing to disclose gifts on their income taxes.”