COLUMBIA -- Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer on Wednesday asked the State Law Enforcement Division to temporarily suspend his constable's certificate, the day after revelations of two speeding incidents sparked a public outcry.

Bauer was stopped twice for speeding in the past four months, including once for going 101 mph in his state car, but wasn't issued a citation, officials disclosed Tuesday.

A campaign consultant said Bauer asked that his constable certificate be suspended to show that he isn't above the law.

"He feels extremely apologetic about the entire incident and wants to make it absolutely clear that he is not above the law," said Rod Shealy, a campaign consultant. "Surrendering whatever rights is just a part of that apology to make sure the public understands that he in no way is above the law."

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Bauer is facing new political hurdles. Anderson's Henry Jordan, a founder of the state's Christian Coalition, jumped into the Republican lieutenant governor's primary race Wednesday, charging that Bauer is ethically challenged.

The lieutenant governor wouldn't answer any questions Wednesday related to the speeding incidents, said Mike Easterday, his chief of staff, who also declined to answer any questions.

The 37-year-old lieutenant governor was commissioned as a constable in 2002 while a state senator, according to records provided to The Greenville News under the state Freedom of Information Act.

Constables are commissioned through SLED to assist law enforcement agencies, do investigations for financial agencies or security work for utilities.

They are authorized to carry firearms but must pass a SLED weapons course and undergo a background check by SLED, which administers the constable program for the Governor's Office. Constables are appointed by the governor.

According to the constable manual published by SLED, constables "must at all times present themselves in a professional manner" and must never "bring discredit on the commission, the governor, SLED or the state of South Carolina."

SLED Chief Robert Stewart asked Bauer on Wednesday if any of his speeding incidents were related to his work as a constable.

"He said no," Stewart said, "and he didn't really want that to be an issue because of the constable's program. So he's now sent me a letter asking me to place his constable's certification in a suspended status until the end of this (legislative) session."

According to a copy of his letter, Bauer asked that his certification be suspended, saying, "Due to my heavy schedule I am unable to devote any time to this endeavor."

The speeding incidents were disclosed as a result of South Carolina Freedom of Information Act requests filed by The News and other news organizations.

Bauer last week denied to a reporter for The News that he had been stopped for speeding by the Highway Patrol. Shealy said Wednesday night that his denial was a "misunderstanding."

Had he been charged and convicted, Bauer would have faced a total of 10 points against his driving record for the two stops, authorities said Tuesday.

Twelve points result in a suspended license.

"I made a mistake, I am embarrassed by these events, and I accept responsibility for having a lead foot," Bauer said in a prepared statement released Tuesday evening.

Bauer walked to work Tuesday morning and then walked 10 miles from the Statehouse to GOP headquarters in Lexington on Tuesday afternoon to try to demonstrate his willingness to change to voters.

"It's a symbolic gesture to get off on a new foot," he told reporters as he left the Statehouse.

One trooper who pursued Bauer along Interstate 77 in Chester for doing 101 mph thought Bauer was a law enforcement officer because the type of state car he drives is used by many police agencies, Highway Patrol officials said Tuesday.

During the incident, Bauer also radioed a Highway Patrol dispatcher using a state-issued radio in the car to let the troopers know he was the lieutenant governor.

In the other incident, along Interstate 385 in Laurens County, a trooper gave Bauer a warning ticket after stopping him in a 2006 BMW for going 77 or 78 in a 65 mph zone, records show.

In that stop, Bauer warned the trooper that he might have a gun in his glove compartment.