|
|
| Sanford Says He'll Serve
if Called |
 Governor
Mark Sanford says he thinks his
responsibilities as
governor are greater than his duties in the Air Force Reserve.
But he said he will honor his military commitment to show his
four young sons about service and keeping
his
word.
Sanford says he and his wife, Jenny, discussed
his service in the 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron based
in Charleston before making the decision.
The
42-year-old former congressman was commissioned on January
30th, 2002, but has not completed his two weeks of required
officer training.
He says he wouldn't have to hand over
the reigns of the state to the lieutenant governor to complete
that training -- something he
says he may do in March or
April.
An Air Force Reserve spokesman in Charleston has
said Sanford's unit has not been notified it will be called
up.
Sanford says he would not resign as governor if he
were on an extended deployment and he may seek a court's
opinion about whether the state constitution prohibits him
from keeping his
commission.
Following is the letter
sent by Gov. Sanford to Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer on
Tuesday:
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE
GOVERNOR
MARK SANFORD, GOVERNOR
January 28,
2003
The Honorable Rudolph Andreas Bauer
Lieutenant
Governor, State of South Carolina
Post Office Box
142
Columbia, S.C. 29202
Dear Andre,
As
President Bush is addressing our country tonight, I felt it
was
important to write to you and make clear exactly where
I stand as it
relates to my status with the Air Force
Reserves. The bottom line for me
is that I made a
commitment and I am going to keep it. Therefore, as to
any
orders I receive I will do just as anyone else in my unit and
follow
them.
I believe simply that this is
consistent with who I am as a person.
Ive always done what
I said I would do. I also think its about
being a dad.
Ive said from the beginning that I did this because, on
a
personal level, I wanted to signal to my boys the importance
of duty
and the fact that there is a real disconnect in our
country between the
rights and the responsibilities that go
with being an American. I also
believe this is consistent
with the concept of servant leadership. I
have a much
bigger responsibility now as Governor of South Carolina
than
I did when I began this process but ultimately the
essence of servant
leadership is being available not when
you think the time is best
but when you are called.
In the event my unit is activated, I have full
confidence in your
abilities along with those of Speaker
Wilkins and Senator McConnell.
Should that happen, I will
work closely with each of you to ensure that
the agenda I
laid out for our state last week is fulfilled.
Take
care,
Mark Sanford
|
|
| More News Headlines
. . . |
|
|
