GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FINALLY TRACKS DOWN MISSING GOVERNOR

After everyone in the state spent Monday looking for him, Gov. Mark Sanford has been found hiking along the Appalachian Trail, according to press secretary Joel Sawyer.

“I apologize for taking so long to send this update, and was waiting to see if a more definitive idea of what part of the Trail he was on before we did so,” Sawyer wrote in a statement just released. “I want to emphasize that this isn’t something that either staff or Mrs. Sanford is concerned about.”

Added Sawyer, “As we said earlier today, it isn’t unusual for the governor to be out of pocket for several days after the legislative session. We knew he would be difficult to reach, and that he would be checking in infrequently. Given the media attention this has generated, we’ll obviously update you once we have some more specifics to pass along.”

News broke earlier today that Sanford had been missing since Thursday and that neither his staff nor family knew where he was. Reports were that Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer had temporarily taken control of South Carolina’s executive branch.

And the disappearance caused such a stir around that state that South Carolina’s official tabloid blog FITSNews has written more than a half-dozen stories on it, including one that falsely claimed he had gone hunting and fishing.

Regardless, the fact that Sanford would decide to go hiking without telling anyone — including his wife and kids — on Father’s Day weekend is pretty messed up, to say the least. And it’s even more ridiculous that he would leave the state without a proper protocol for what to do in his absence.

But that’s Sanford for you.

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UPDATE: Sawyer released this statement Tuesday morning:

Governor Sanford called to check in with his Chief of Staff this morning. It would be fair to say the governor was somewhat taken aback by all of the interest this trip has gotten.

Given the circumstances and the attention this has garnered, the governor communicated to us that he plans on returning to the office tomorrow.

UPDATE 2: Some more insight from a prominent SC politico:

Bob McAlister, chief of staff for the late Gov. Carroll Campbell, said it was not unusual for Campbell to get away from staff or even his security detail.

But Campbell never cut off contact completely, McAllister said.

If Campbell was on vacation or deep-sea fishing, often the press would not be told, McAllister said. But Campbell’s office tried to keep Lt. Gov. Nick Theodore, a Democrat, informed about Campbell’s schedule, particularly when he was traveling abroad.

“From a professional standpoint, this can’t happen,” McAlister said of Sanford’s absence. Residents and public officials need to know where the governor is, he added.

“It’s very disconcerting,” McAlister said.

“As the head of our state, in the unfortunate event of a state of emergency or homeland security situation, Governor Sanford should be available at all times to the chief of SLED.”