Lt. Gov. Ken Ard Should Resign

South Carolina’s new Republican Lieutenant Governor Ken Ard had only been in office for less than a month before he was engulfed in an ethics scandal.  Now state’s Attorney General is deciding whether to bring criminal charges on the former Florence County Councilman.

Lt. Governor Ard was recently charged with 107 ethics violations by the South Carolina Ethics Commission for using campaign cash on personal expenses. He used other people’s money to finance a family vacation to Washington, D.C., tickets and hotel rooms at the SEC Championship football game in Atlanta, a big screen television, a Playstation 3, two iPads, limousine services, lavish dinners, gasoline, cell phones, and high dollar clothes for himself and his wife. Once these violations were brought to the attention of the Ethics Commission, the spending stopped, and the lying began.

Ard told state investigators that the trip to Washington was to meet with Senator Lindsey Graham to discuss economic development issues. The problem is Senator Graham’s office confirms a meeting never took place, nor was one requested.

Ard told state investigators he was invited by USC officials to the SEC Championship. The truth is that offer was rescinded after the invitation in question was flagged as a clear lobbying violation. Ard came anyway. Campaign documents show Ard spent over $2,500 at Best Buy for “office supplies.” However, receipts show purchases of gaming equipment, big screen TV's, iPads, iPods, and other electronics.

Ard also told investigators he spent $800 at a ladies clothing store in Florence to buy his wife a gown for his inauguration. Investigators found that the money was actually spent on a ladies jacket and skirt, neither of which were worn by Mrs. Ard at the inauguration.

He has also been caught lying about where he went to college, pay raises on County Council, and previous votes on tax increases. In January, Corey Hutchins of the Columbia Free Times quoted him saying, “I’m not very good at dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s.” Ard insisted to other reporters that he was misquoted. Hutchins later released the audio, confirming the quote, and catching him in a lie.

This is a pattern for Ard. He has lied time and time again to the media, state investigators, and the people of South Carolina. It’s one thing to break the law, but it’s another to lie about it. Ard not only owes the people of South Carolina an apology, he owes us his letter of resignation.

Tyler Jones is lifelong Democrat and is active in state politics. He has served as a consultant on several campaigns and is co-founder the progressive organization South Carolina Forward Progress.