EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2005-15

WHEREAS, the Grand Jurors of Charleston County indicted Larry Roy "Kwadjo" Campbell, Jr., a member of the City Council of the City of Charleston, on July 13, 2005, for acceptance of an unlawful campaign contribution, failure to deposit campaign contributions into his campaign account, and misconduct in office in violation of South Carolina Code of Laws Section 8-13-1314, Section 8-13-1312 and the common law of South Carolina, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Article VI, Section 8 of the South Carolina Constitution provides that "[a]ny officer of the State or its political subdivisions . . ., who has been indicted by a grand jury for a crime involving moral turpitude or who has waived such indictment if permitted by law may be suspended by the Governor until he shall have been acquitted. . ."; and

WHEREAS, Larry Roy "Kwadjo" Campbell, Jr., is an officer of the State or its political subdivisions; and

WHEREAS, South Carolina law recognizes that the common law offense of misconduct in office constitutes a crime of moral turpitude, particularly if the facts as alleged in the indictment so indicate. Op. S.C. Atty. Gen., March 16, 2004, citing In The Matter of Chiles, 490 S.E.2d 259 (1997) and In The Matter of Archie Lee, 437 S.E.2d 85 (1993); and

WHEREAS, the above-referenced charge is a crime of moral turpitude; and

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of South Carolina, I hereby suspend Larry Roy "Kwadjo" Campbell, Jr. from the office of City Council of the City of Charleston. This suspension shall remain in effect until such time as he shall be formally acquitted or convicted.

This action in no manner addresses the question of the guilt or innocence of Mr. Campbell and should not be construed as an expression of any opinion one way or another on such question.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 14th DAY OF JULY, 2005.

MARK SANFORD
Governor


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