CLEMSON — Clemson City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night with one noticeable absence — suspended member Elouise James.

Gov. Mark Sanford suspended James, arrested in September on criminal charges resulting from a joint investigation conducted by the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and SLED over several months, late Friday afternoon. The executive order said the suspension, effective immediately, came following James’ Oct. 20 indictment by a Pickens County Grand Jury and South Carolina law regarding fraud.

James was charged in September with two counts of obtaining goods by false pretenses and one count of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult in Pickens County and two counts of forgery and one count of obstruction of Justice in Greenville County.

“Essentially, Elouise James still holds her City Council seat,” said Rodney Allen, director of Registrations and Elections in Pickens County, when asked to explain the suspension. “However, she has been relieved of her powers and responsibilities of the office until she is either found guilty or acquitted.”

Clemson Mayor Larry Abernathy, seated next to the placard displaying James’ name, said on Monday night he was “very, very sad” about the governor’s decision.

“I don’t believe it diminishes Mrs. James’ contribution to the council or her commitment to the city,” Abernathy said.

Mayor Pro Tem Butch Trent said he still has “a lot of faith” in his colleague and friend.

“I hope things work out for her,” he said.

Jim Oswald called James “a good council member for the City of Clemson.”

“I hope she can get all this behind her and find a most peaceful and productive future,” he said.

Other council members said the legal system must play itself out.

“It will work out one way or another,” said Jeremy Wright. “Time will tell whether (Sanford’s decision) was the right move or not.”

J.C. Cook said James is innocent until proven guilty, adding, “It hasn’t affected her work one bit. So, I think it’s premature.”

Tim Fowler preferred to research the matter further.

“We’ve been given two different stories from two different persons regarding the governor’s decision,” Fowler said, adding that his thoughts were with James.

Wright said the most important thing council can do is to continue conducting business as usual.

“We need to move forward and not let it be a distraction,” Wright said.

Sanford, who was in Clemson on Monday, was asked after his meeting with the city’s Rotary Club about the suspension.

“In these circumstances, it has been a constant practice of this office to remove individuals from office,” Sanford said.

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