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In rapid succession, two recent op-eds have been published by Governor Mark Sanford’s apologists with me as their target. The first by Ashley Landess (“Our S.C. ports must remain competitive,” March 5, 2008) was simply misinformed.
Ms. Landess would be wise to do a fact-check on information the governor’s office provides her before firing off opinions. Contrary to her summary of my views, I have always advocated partnering with private companies to help raise funds for the future of our ports. I am simply opposed to completely turning over the management of our vital ports to a unionized company, which Governor Sanford has been aggressively pushing behind the scenes for years.
The more serious attack was made against my character by Tom Davis, the Governor’s chief of staff (“Ethical issues required Campbell’s departure,” March 7, 2008). Mr. Davis was attempting to refute my statement that the Governor removed me from the Ports Authority Board because I didn’t support his agenda for the ports. Defending the Governor, Davis said I was removed because I opened “a lobbying firm” and he claimed that was “exactly the reason Campbell was given for his removal.”
Mr. Davis is not telling the truth. In his eagerness to discredit me, Davis apparently forgot about a letter he wrote me on January 3, 2008 in which he gave the real reason the Governor wanted me to resign. I quote below directly from the letter Davis sent me:
“In any event, the governor’s conclusion that you should no longer serve on the SPA board is not simply due to the appearance of a conflict but for other reasons—most importantly, the different view you and he have as to the role the private sector and, in particular, private capital ought to play in the operation and financing of our ports.”
Mr. Davis was forced to reveal the governor’s true motive because there was no conflict. Governor Sanford has appointed dozens of people to state boards who employ lobbyists in their businesses. His case for “the appearance of a conflict” was obviously bogus. He wanted me off the Board because he couldn’t control my vote.
In other words, Mark Sanford is so consumed by his agenda that he’s willing to launch a personal attack on my character, in a manner he knows to be untruthful, merely to score a point on the editorial page. But the greatest irony of all is the governor’s decision to allow Tom Davis to write op-eds about ethics.
“ Sanford is so consumed by his agenda that he’s willing to launch a personal attack on my character, in a manner he knows to be untruthful, merely to score a point on the editorial page. But the greatest irony of all is the governor’s decision to allow Tom Davis to write op-eds about ethics. ”
In 2005, when Mr. Davis served briefly as a Sanford appointment to the Board of the State Ports Authority, Davis (who also happens to be an attorney) was caught holding private meetings with representatives of Jasper County and SSA Marine, a shipping company the Ports Authority was suing, the same unionized company Governor Sanford has been pushing us to deal with.
Mr. Davis inserted himself into the middle of a highly contentious lawsuit. And he did so secretly, without authority from the Board. Such unauthorized ex parte contact during a lawsuit is not only inappropriate; it is also a serious breach of judicial ethics for an attorney.
When the members of our Board’s executive committee expressed the view that such conduct would not be tolerated, Mr. Davis admitted he had “made a mistake” and urged us not to say anything publicly. Shortly thereafter he returned to his job as the governor’s chief of staff.
Having gone through that experience, I was not at all surprised to learn of efforts the governor’s office was later accused of making to inappropriately influence judicial proceedings in Yemessee and regulatory decisions before the Workers Compensation Commission. It is a pattern of behavior that puts the governor’s political agenda above all other concerns, including ethics and the reputation of anyone who stands in their way.
Several friends advised me I should go away quietly, that I could never win a public relations war with Mark Sanford. I knew when I drew public attention to the governor’s tactics I would probably be attacked by his agents and even by his friends in the media, some of whom still subscribe to his carefully cultivated image. He is indeed one of the best self-promoters in the nation.
Still, I felt a moral obligation to tell the truth. And once again, I repeat my challenge to elected officials and others who care about the future of South Carolina. Watch this governor closely.
Nothing is more important to the economic future of South Carolina than a strong, efficient, competitive system of ports for imports and exports in the marketplace of the world. And Governor Sanford’s agenda to turn over the management of our ports to a unionized company is the pathway to disaster.
Carroll A. Campbell III is the President of Carroll Campbell and Associates and a Former Board Member of the South Carolina Ports Authority.
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In looking at the actions of the Policy Council since Ms. Landess has taken charge one can only assume that the Council is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Mark Sanford. That Ms. Landess and Mr. Davis should write such twin articles supporting the Governor can be no surprised, given the closeness of the relationship.
Mr. Campbell is correct in pointing out that Mark Sanford is a self promoter. Most recently, he scored points in our local media by not reappointing the Director of Pubic Safety…and yet the media has failed to draw the conclusion that under Mark Sanford’s leadership the Patrol has taken a turn for the worse. Just last night I watched on TV as two different patrolmen ram their cars into the bodies of black men…only Mark Sanford could have that happen on his watch and yet still escape responsibility.
Mr. Campbell ha shown leadership, and fortitude. Good for him…and I hope he stays the course.
Sanford wants to turn our ports over to a strongly unionized firm. Well, that is not a good thing for SC. But I suppose it could be a good thing for Mark Sanford, depending on how much money he may have collected in his non-profits. Union types are known for large, and I mean large, contributions.
Sanford has millions in secret, non-profit accounts. Tom Davis knows where all that money is and I wonder if he will be asked about it in his Senate Campaign.
Mr. Campbell is looking and sounding more like his dad. Mark Sanford is looking and sounding like a carpet bagger.
Judge Joe Anderson’s sentencing memo for Ravenel
http://media.charleston.net/2008/pdf/ravenel_032208.pdf
Perhaps Mr Campbell should run for Governor.
Tom
It appears that Mr. Campbell is an honorable man. Would that the same could be said of Gov. Sanford.
Tumpy,
Are you kidding?
Seriously, dude, you’re as dumb as a box of rocks, as crooked as a snake and you lie like a bathmat … but at least you’re good-looking, right?
Look, if you really thought that “nothing (was) more important to the economic future of South Carolina than a strong, efficient, competitive system of ports” then why the hell have you and your buddy Bill Stern not added capacity? And why do you insist on preserving such a non-competitive management model?
Virginia added capacity while you were picking your nose and staring at Barbara Melvin’s legs during your tenure on the Ports Board, so too has Texas, Florida, Alabama and North Carolina. And they’ve all done so using public-private partnerships. Hell, 45 of the world’s 50 biggest ports use these free-market agreements, including 13 of America’s 15 largest ports.
South Carolina and Georgia are the only two states that insist on using your ass-backward, Marxist, “total-state control” model, but the big difference is Atlanta can stroke a check whenever Savannah needs a new crane or terminal, Columbia can’t do the same for Charleston.
Oh, and please tell whoever ghost-writes your opeds to stop tossing out that red herring about unionization. Roughly 1,400 of our 1,800 current ports employees are already unionized big boy, and last time we checked Charleston was still standing. Aside from that, public-private partnerships can include whatever anti-Union language the state wishes to insert in the agreement, you imbecile.
Frankly, the fact that you were a member of the Ports Authority Board and still don’t know that only confirms that you’re as dumb as everybody says you are.
We’ll grant you that the governor is frequently an idiot, too, and you’re certainly correct about his carefully cultivated image. But as big of an idiot as he is – and as dumb as he was for not firing a pea-brain like you a long time ago – at least he stands on his own two feet (albeit awkardly) and doesn’t run around reminding everybody who his pappy was. Of course, we would like to congratulate your ghost-writer for finally drafting something for your signature that didn’t start with … “When my father was …”
Congrats, honestly.
Your dad was a bad-ass, no doubt about it. But you, sir, are a moron.
W
http://www.fitsnews.com
My wife and I are not only union members I am also a vice president of our local. I will admit that unions have internal problems just like non-union. Campbell only uses the word union to reflect so non-specific issue that he has with a particular company and union. Unions fight to improve worker health plans, retirement plans, work place safety, defend against harassment based on religion, age, race and sex.
One voice is only a squeak, hundreds or thousands roar like a lion. Be grateful for the unions that are established in South Carolina, create locals to defend your rights as a working class member!
IS WILL FOLKS STILL ON THE SANFORD’S PAYROLL? SURE SOUNDS LIKE IT.
This port is big money. That is why Mark Sanford is up to his nipples in it…he is a greedy bastard.
Will,
Are you kidding me? You attempting to lecture anyone on ethics is laughable.
Let me get this straight. You and Tom Davis set up a lobbying and consulting firm when you worked for the Governor. The Governor employed both of you and had no problem with that little arrangement. But let someone tell the truth and suddenly it becomes a problem.
Tom Davis has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar more than once. How many dirty deals with the port do the people of South Carolina have to put up with. Now today Tom Davis tells the news media that the port was overpriced. Maybe his friends want to lowball another offer.
Oh, and speaking about being ethically challenged is Tom going to repay the state taxpayers for all the time he was running his campagin out of Marky Mark’s office suite?
Stick to publishing the pornography that you and Tom Davis take such pride in. When you and Tom Davis stop with the constant disrespect of women, maybe you will have one ounce of credibility. Until then, thanks for playing …
Oh, and by the way Happy Easter.
When all is said and done, the Sanford administration will be known as the dirtest in modern SC history. The story will not be broken by the State, or WISTV…it will broken by a blog.
And then the people of SC will know what we in Columbia already know. ..thatSanford and his friends have looted this state for their pleasure.
Which blog can we get to break that story Eric??????
There are so many many stories about Sanford and his special brand of ethics….. he not only influences the port decisions but try social services and even federal services…… if it means bucks to repub’s… Sanford is on it.
Campbell, my jury is still out on you and your honesty but Sanford, the jury is in on yours and you’re toast Sir.
The claim that entering into some landlord tenant relationship will turn our state over to the evil unions is laughable.
The ILA is at the SPA now, they will be there tomorrow and from now on.
The issue is that the state cannot pay to create the Navy Base terminal or the connector road. The only chance is for a private company to do it for us .
Unsurprisingly the SPA administration is against losing their power and ultimately their jobs. They are not needed and they probably can see the hand writing on the wall. So they fight and as they do we drop down the rankings of Ports and lose BMW business to Georgia.
Mark Sanford did make a mistake and not fire the members who voted against landlord tenant model of management years ago.
Not being here to bash anyone I just wanted to add that I have worked under the yoke of a union for 12 years and will agree that unions serve several useful functions, BUT they have long outlived most of their function. The unions of today are not on the job FOR the average worker; they are there to protect their cronies and malcontents that should not be employed, and they are there to protect their own positions and power. My personal experience with the private sector versus state governance of our State Ports Authority to a board of Carolina citizens and not a Corporate entity. Corporations are setup to make money for the Corporation at the exclusion of all other endeavors and the salaries that Corporation Officers negotiate are paid entirely too much money whether they succeed or fail.
Lets keep our SPA at least somewhat under the control of the people of our state we might be slower to react to situations but we would be more likely to act in the interest of the Port as WE see it.
Thank you and I hope you continue to fight for our Port, the best way to anger the governor would be to defeat his purpose.
Sincerely Dan
What is Sanford’s cut of the commission?
As it might be Sanford’s first ever sale (does anyone know of anything he ever ACTUALLY developed or sold?) I hope he makes a lot…after all…one sale in a lifetime has to be hard on the bank book.
Did I just sse Union and Sanford in the same sentence. I thought the republicans were against Unions. Doesn’t this open a whole nother can of worms. Unions mean a whole package of stuff what happened to smaller government and no Unions. What happened to being straight forward and telling the truth. He is trying to sell out public schools, sell out our ports and trying to say he’s conservative at the same time.
Under Hodges and Clinton we completely redid the ports. I tore down 2 buildins on Columbus Street Port Authority the capacity was increased when Democrats were in. I’m surpised Sanford hasn’t tried to put Dubia in charge. I believe he’d sell his eyes if it weren’t 95 % of his senses.
What happend to the republican party? Have you no descentcy. Sell your soul and move to another life but leave this nation alone.
Become a real South CArolinaian and be a Christian Democrat. I serve the one true living God and his rules.
Darryl Mast
“Mr. Davis inserted himself into the middle of a highly contentious lawsuit. And he did so secretly, without authority from the Board. Such unauthorized ex parte contact during a lawsuit is not only inappropriate; it is also a serious breach of judicial ethics for an attorney.”
Tumpy –its obvious your ghost writer is no brain trust, either … prohibited “ex parte contact” relates to contact with a JUDGE presiding over the case and lawyers are not subject to the Code of JUDICIAL ethics. Perhaps your lack of attention to detail is part of the reason that you served no useful purpose on the SPA board.
Pride goeth before the fall…what a bunch of self-serving nonesense.
hey will…….sounds a bit like you are losing control over this tumpy thing. At least we know he wont have to put a restraining order on you like ashley did. Better watch out he probably can take a punch better than ashely did when you beat the s___t out of her.(that is youe ex-fiance) So keep beating down on people…..But stay with the girls, and you probably can continue to get off