WHEREAS, the Grand Jurors of the United States District Court, District of South Carolina, Florence Division, indicted Carl Larue Alford, Mayor of the City of Lake City, on April 26, 2006, for knowingly receiving counterfeited obligations of the United States with the intent that the same be passed, published and used as true and genuine in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 473; and

WHEREAS, South Carolina law recognizes that "an act in which fraud is an ingredient involves moral turpitude. . ." State v. Horton, 248 S.E.2d 263 (1978); and

WHEREAS, the above-referenced indictment is for a crime that involves moral turpitude; and

WHEREAS, Carl Larue Alford, is an officer of the State or its political subdivisions; 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, a certified true copy of the indictment against Carl Larue Alford has been provided to me; and

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of South Carolina, I hereby suspend Carl Larue Alford from the office of Mayor of Lake City. 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. Alford 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 27th DAY OF APRIL, 2006.

MARK SANFORD
Governor

Last Updated: Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 4:10 P.M.