WHEREAS, Allen Lee Bozardt, the Mayor of the Town of Ridgeville, has been indicted by the State of South Carolina, County of Berkeley, Court of General Sessions, on one count of Grand Larceny; and

WHEREAS, Article VI, Section 8 of the South Carolina Constitution provides in pertinent part, that "[a]ny officer of the State or its political subdivisions, except members and officers of the Legislative and Judicial Branches, 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. In case of conviction the office shall be declared vacant and the vacancy filled as may be provided by law;" and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bozardt is an Officer of the State or its political subdivisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers conferred upon me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of South Carolina, I hereby order that Allen Lee Bozardt shall be suspended from office until such time as the charge of Grand Larceny referenced above has been resolved, at which time further appropriate action will be taken by the undersigned.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 30TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1998.

_____________________________________
DAVID M. BEASLEY
Governor

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:19 A.M.