Harvey Peeler

Legislative Delegation urges residents to apply for appointments

The representative and three senators who comprise Union County’s Legislative Delegation encouraged citizens and Union County Council on Tuesday to send resumes to Gov. Mark Sanford if they are interested in securing one of two replacement appointments.

Rep. Mike Anthony, D-Union, and Sens. Shane Martin, R-Spartanburg; Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney; and Creighton Coleman, D-Winnsboro; each said Sanford has the power to fill vacant spots created by his suspension of Union County Supervisor Donnie Betenbaugh and the resignation of Union County Clerk of Court Brad Morris.

Citizens overfilled the grand jury room of the Union County Courthouse to attend the council’s first meeting since the shake-up. Pain caused by public corruption charges reverberated from the opening prayer to the adjournment.

Anthony said “all of us are hurting” because of the charges and because the remaining politicians have been painted with a “broad brush.” Anthony distributed e-mail and physical addresses where interested parties who live in Union County can send their resumes to Sanford.

Peeler said he attended the meeting to “restore faith and confidence in Union County government” for concerned residents.

The appointments are “the governor’s prerogative,” Peeler said. “He may listen to us. He may not listen to us.”

Martin said attendees who know “somebody good” should encourage them to send resumes, and Coleman said it will be important for leaders and residents to support the persons Sanford chooses to complete the terms of Betenbaugh and Morris.

Sanford suspended Betenbaugh last week after the county’s leader of 15 years was indicted on federal charges that included extortion, soliciting and accepting bribes, money laundering, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, allowing the Union County Tax Assessor’s Office to be used to store and distribute cocaine and hydrocodone, and illegally distributing Lorazepam.

Morris resigned Friday, the same day that 16th Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett announced he has asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate bank accounts managed by the clerk of court’s office. Brackett made the request after fielding complaints that child support payment checks were bouncing.

Brackett, the lead prosecutor for Union and York counties, said Tuesday that the fund used for that is solvent and able to issue checks. He is waiting for the results of the SLED audit.

Federal prosecutors last week charged former Union County Tax Assessor Willie Randall Jr., naming him in the 40-count indictment against Betenbaugh.

They also charged former Union County Sheriff Howard Wells in a separate indictment that accused him of lying to federal investigators and witness tampering.

Federal prosecutors also charged Union County residents Willard Farr and Lapriest Beacham last week.

Brackett said “no other warrants are pending” despite rumors that federal and state prosecutors are ready to roll out more indictments.

“There are a lot of rumors that are just not true,” Brackett said. “Everybody needs to calm down and take a breath.”

Union County Council Vice Chair Dora Martin-Jennings, who has been serving in Betenbaugh’s place, said Tuesday she is not interested in garnering appointment from the governor. Martin-Jennings originally said she would serve if picked by the governor, but changed her mind after thinking about it.

Union County resident Michael Taylor was the only citizen who addressed council. Taylor said he’s “embarrassed to death” about recent events.

Taylor said county employees should be subject to drug testing and said he was frustrated that road and bridge projects are too slow and that county vehicles are being used for personal use.

Council proposed no action on employee drug testing.
Check program

In other action, council approved a worthless check program that will be administered through Brackett’s office, which was already running the program for York County.

Brackett said the program will ease victims’ process of prosecuting a bad check and be paid for with a fee imposed on the writers of bad checks. Brackett said letters informing bad check writers to “make good or you will be prosecuted” carries more weight than letters from business owners.

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