WHEREAS, Nathaniel Bess, Mayor of Lynchburg, has been indicted by the State Grand Jury, September 21, 1998, on one count of fraudulently and intentionally appropriating or converting to his own use or benefit public funds from Lynchburg-Elliot Child Care Center, in violation of Section 16-13-210(1), South Carolina Code of Laws (1976), as amended; and

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

WHEREAS, Nathaniel Bess is an Officer of the State or its political subdivisions; and

WHEREAS, Article VI, Section 8 of the South Carolina Constitution provides that in case of conviction for a crime of moral turpitude, any officer of the State or its political subdivisions shall forfeit his office and the office shall be declared vacant.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of South Carolina, I hereby declare the office of Mayor of Lynchburg vacant until it shall be filled as otherwise provided by law.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 1st DAY OF JUNE, 1999.

JIM HODGES
Governor

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:20 A.M.