Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

From left: State Rep. Bill Sandifer, of Seneca; State Sen. Thomas Alexander, of Walhalla, who also represents a portion of Pickens County; and State Rep. Bill Whitmire are among those reported by a Columbia alternative magazine as being included on a legislative “Hit List.” Photo by Jon Robertson/Staff.

COLUMBIA — Six members of the legislative delegations of Oconee and Pickens are reportedly among 31 state lawmakers featured on a “hit list” targeting them for defeat in the June primary.

A Columbia alternative magazine recently reported that Sen. Thomas Alexander, who represents Oconee and a portion of Pickens County, and Sen. Larry Martin of Pickens, are two of the 11 senators listed. Rep. Davey Hiott of Pickens, Rep. Bill Sandifer of Seneca, Rep. B.R. Skelton of Clemson and Rep. Bill Whitmire of Walhalla are on the House version.

The “hit list” has long been rumored and Whitmire has even acknowledged that he was specifically targeted for defeat in the 2006 election. While Whitmire said professional lobbyist groups have long zeroed in on lawmakers who oppose their various causes, the “Free Times” reports that Will Folks, a former spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford, submitted the list to the S.C. Club for Growth.

Joel Sawyer, spokesman for Gov. Sanford, told the Daily Journal and Daily Messenger that the governor is in no way involved with any such list.

Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

“This is unfortunately just a case of the Columbia rumor mill where e-mails have bounced back and forth among people not connected with this office. It is a question that has come up for months and the governor has repeatedly responded by saying it is not true.” —Joel Sawyer, spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford

“The governor has said publicly and privately on numerous occasions that he is not targeting any legislators; that he doesn’t have a list,” Sawyer said Thursday afternoon. “This is unfortunately just a case of the Columbia rumor mill where e-mails have bounced back and forth among people not connected with this office. It is a question that has come up for months and the governor has repeatedly responded by saying it is not true.”

Martin agrees, adding that he contacted Gov. Sanford himself after hearing his name linked to the list.

“I was surprised — so I just decided to call and ask him about it,” said Martin regarding his initial reaction. “We had a cordial, 20-minute conversation and he was adamant that he didn’t know where this was coming from.

“It’s real hard to nail down who put it out, but the Governor’s office certainly had nothing to do with it.”

Though admitting that he and the governor have differed on various political issues, including the voucher program, Martin added that the two share “a great working relationship” and agree on other issues including tort reform, worker’s compensation and Real ID.

Hiott admits he is “a bit skeptical” about the “hit list” and its origin. Like Martin, Hiott said he contacted the governor’s office.

“They told me they had absolutely nothing to do with it,” Hiott said.

But Sandifer said two things stand out in his mind.

Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

“I think it’s interesting to note that none of these organizations were in existence prior to his being elected governor.” — State Rep. Bill Sandifer, R-Seneca

“If you look at the list, you will find the Oconee delegation is the only one as a whole that appears on the list and, second, there seems to be a preponderance of Upstate legislators — both from the House and Senate,” Sandifer said.

Sandifer feels the groups apparently tied to the list are primarily from out-of-state and controlled from outside the state. However, when asked whether he thought the governor was involved, Sandifer replied, “I think it’s interesting to note that none of these organizations were in existence prior to his being elected governor.”

Sawyer said that the actions by other groups “are their business, obviously” and that the governor’s office struggles to see the link between “what people are doing and this office.”

“It’s not something we’re engaging in nor do we have any involvement,” Sawyer said. “I’m sure there is a conspiracy theory for everything, but it doesn’t fit this.”

Whitmire said he is uncertain as to who is involved in the supposed list, but feels his name has been mentioned because he chairs the K-12 education subcommittee and opposes the use of vouchers for public and private schools.

“I’m a big boy and I can take it,” Whitmire said. “But I do believe people need to know where the money (funding professional lobbyist efforts against elected officials) is coming from.”

Alexander declined to comment specifically on the “hit list,” but added, “Certainly, it’s coming from outside interest groups if it is anywhere.”

Skelton said he preferred to issue a statement, to be read in its entirety, which is as follows: “I have been told that there is a hit list linked to the governor. I have no way of knowing whether that is true. There have been times when I have disagreed with the governor and times when I have supported his position on an issue.

“My duty as the elected representative from District 3 is to carefully evaluate every issue, talk with my constituents and make my decision based on what is in the best interests of my constituents, not the interests of a political party, special interest group or a governor. I take this responsibility very seriously and always try to consider the ramifications of each vote not just for the immediate future or the time I hold this office, but in decades to come.”

Martin said he believes the potential “hit lists” are hyped in order to pad the fees for campaign consultants.

“I smelled and diagnosed it for what it was — campaign consultants using the media to enrich their pocketbooks,” Martin said. “If you don’t have an issue, you just make up one or fabricate one.

“Years ago, it was unheard of to use consultants but it has gotten to be a much bigger part of the campaign cycle. Frankly, I don’t like it but the impression I get from a lot of these consultants is that it’s a game and they don’t care who wins as long as it pads their pockets.”

Though the magazine reports that the targeting of legislators is not illegal, Martin said a bill is pending on the Senate calendar that attempts to narrow the focus on outside groups that come into an area “for no other reason but to run a political campaign against an incumbent or challenger opposed to what they want.”

But all of the legislators interviewed were undeterred by the “list” and what it reportedly represents. Instead, they emphasized their desire to continue the job they feel citizens elected them to do — to represent their respective areas to the best of their abilities.

“Ultimately, it will be the decision of the citizens we serve and our job is to represent them,” Alexander said. “That is something I try to do to the best of my ability.”

Whitmire said he would never allow any outside special interest group to influence him or his vote.

“The people who sent me (into office) have enough confidence in me that they have returned me to office twice,” Whitmire said, adding, “I’m just going to vote what I think is best for the people of Oconee County and the state.”

Sandifer said the Oconee County Legislative Delegation has voted in accordance with the wishes of the people they represent.

“It bothers them that people would target us and the people who send us who vote against the governor or anyone who disagrees with them,” Sandifer said.

Hiott said he doesn’t worry about a “hit list” should one actually exist.

“The people of Pickens County sent me down here to do a job and I can’t worry about those things,” Hiott said. “As long as you do the job they asked you to do and do what’s right for them, that’s all they’re concerned about.”