COLUMBIA--Chris Drummond, the behind-the-scenes
communications architect for Gov. Mark Sanford, is leaving the governor's
office next month because of family reasons.
Drummond, 42, a Charleston resident who was an award-winning news
director at the CBS and NBC affiliates, promised Sanford three years as
communications director when he was brought on board during the 2002
election campaign.
Between the commute and the demanding job, Drummond said, he would like
to devote more time to his family.
"Three years of separation from my wife, Michelle, and my two kids was
the primary driver of my decision," he said. "I can go back to being a
full-time father and a full-time husband."
Drummond's last day is Oct. 21, and the governor's office is searching
for a replacement.
"Chris made an enormous sacrifice to do this job," Sanford said in a
statement. "I can't thank him enough for all he's done and I wish him
Godspeed in this next chapter of his life."
Drummond said he would start a public relations and
government-consulting firm with branches in Charleston and Columbia. Like
Sanford, Drummond said he wanted to get ordinary people involved in
government. "I think there is an ability to get citizens involved in the
process, whether it is a letter to the editor or a phone call to a
legislator," he said. "They don't realize it makes a difference."
He also plans to help with Sanford's upcoming re-election campaign.
"The governor asked me to be involved," Drummond said. "He's a friend. I'm
going to do whatever I can to help him."
Drummond first met Sanford when the governor was running for Congress
in 1994. He volunteered on the Sanford for Governor campaign against
then-Gov. Jim Hodges and worked for the governor-elect during his
transition.
Before that, he worked at WCSC Channel 5 for 18 years, beginning as an
intern and eventually becoming assignment editor/assistant news director.
He later spent nine months as news director at WCBD Channel 2.
Drummond is the second member of Sanford's communications office to
leave in recent months. In July, Press Secretary Will Folks resigned.