Does S.C. law cover federal campaigns? |
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Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:29
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina law may allow state workers to use taxpayer computers and time to promote presidential campaigns, a state Ethics Commission lawyer said.The comments from commission general counsel Cathy Hazelwood came after an Associated Press review of e-mails that showed former state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel exchanged messages promoting Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani during office hours. Ravenel resigned last week following a federal cocaine charge.'I think an argument can be made that it is an unwise use of time; however, campaign practices specifically excludes federal candidates,' Hazelwood wrote in an e-mail to the AP.Between February and April, treasurer's office spokesman Scott Malyerck e-mailed Ravenel at least six times during office hours regarding the former New York Mayor's campaign. Malyerck has maintained he did nothing wrong by forwarding messages to Ravenel, who served as Giuliani's South Carolina campaign chairman until the unrelated indictment June 19.Since the Malyerck-Ravenel e-mails were made public, interim Treasurer Ken Wingate has met with Malyerck and said office computers can't be used for campaign purposes.Gov. Mark Sanford's spokesman Joel Sawyer also said state workers shouldn't use taxpayer time or computers to promote any candidate.The Ethics commission has never addressed the issue, Hazelwood said. When asked if the law was flawed, Hazelwood said it could be a potential loophole.That's not what the Legislature had in mind in writing the law, said Republican state House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison. He said the Judiciary Committee would talk with Hazelwood and draft any needed legislation.'I can't imagine any legislative intent that would treat a federal election any different than a state election,' he said.Malyerck said Tuesday that he would like to see the law cleared up, too.'Let's change it,' Malyerck said. 'I want to lead the charge.'Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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