Former state Attorney General Charlie Condon won't go riding off into the sunset -- at least not in the state car he used.

Condon, an unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial candidate known for his proliferation of press releases, sought permission to purchase the 1999 Ford Crown Victoria he used. The sedan had nearly 124,000 miles and was valued at $4,355.

Similarly, former Commissioner of Agriculture Les Tindal was seeking to buy his old desk and chair, originally purchased for $2,215 in 1983 and now valued at $150.

The requests were part of a time-honored tradition extended to former elected officials. The matters went before the State Budget and Control Board, which would give its blessings usually without batting an eye.

In December, for example, former Comptroller General James Lander and former Secretary of State Jim Miles received permission from the board to buy cars and a computer.

With the new year came a new administration and a new way of doing business. Gov. Mark Sanford presides over the Budget and Control Board. At his first meeting of the five-member board, Sanford -- admittedly being "incredibly micro" -- nixed the deals for Condon and Tindal.

"Normal state employees can't take their desks with them," Sanford said. "Normal state employees can't take their car with them. At minimum, it raises the specter of political favor.

"At maximum, there's a real waste of state government in the current process."

Though the desk and chair may only be valued at $150, it would cost the state much more to replace the items, Sanford reasoned.

"It sets up a costly process to state government and one that again, to me, doesn't make common sense," Sanford said. "So, I felt bad about that at a personal level, because again I've got no problem with Charlie and no problem with Les."

The Buzz is just thankful Condon didn't get ahold of that blessed fax machine.

RIGHT DOWN TO THE LAST DEMOCRAT

Democratic frontman Kevin Geddings' public relations firm has shacked up with a Charlotte firm to beef up their nonpolitical business.

Geddings & Phillips Communications' six employees above Main Street's Cat & Cleaver restaurant made room last month for the four Columbia employees of Carolina Public Relations/Marketing Inc., owned by Sig Huitt of Charlotte.

"For me, it's an exciting opportunity to focus on nonpolitical things," he said.

Geddings, a "very old 38," was a consultant to the 2002 campaigns of former Gov. Jim Hodges and several other Democrats, most of whom lost.

But don't think Geddings has gone kinder or gentler on Republicans. The firms didn't tie any ownership knots, and Geddings & Phillips' Washington, D.C., office will continue to crank out TV and radio ads for Democrats.

"If there are any of them left, we're going to work with them," he said.