WHEREAS, the South Carolina State Grand Jury indicted Elona Carolyn Davis on June 13, 2002, on two counts of Official Misconduct in Office at Common Law; and

WHEREAS, Elona Carolyn Davis is the elected Mayor of the City of Denmark; and

WHEREAS, the two counts of indictment against Ms. Davis include charges of the unlawful misuse of municipal funds for private purposes; and

WHEREAS, Article VI, Section 8 of the South Carolina Constitution provides that when "[a]ny officer of the State or its political subdivisions who has the custody of public or trust funds [is charged] with embezzlement or appropriation of public or trust funds to private use, upon indictment by a grand jury, the Governor shall suspend such officer and appoint one in his stead, until he shall have been acquitted. In case of conviction, the position shall be declared vacant and the vacancy filled as may be provided by law."

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of South Carolina, I hereby suspend Elona Carolyn Davis from the office of Mayor of the City of Denmark and appoint Denmark Mayor Pro Tem Carrie Sojourner Simmons to serve in her stead on an interim basis until Ms. Davis is acquitted or convicted.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 25th DAY OF JULY, 2002.

JIM HODGES
Governor

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:01 A.M.