Gov. Mark Sanford suspended Charleston City Councilman Kwadjo Campbell from office Thursday, citing a grand jury's decision a day earlier to return three indictments against Campbell charging that he committed campaign finance-related offenses.

Campbell, a two-term councilman and former mayoral candidate, has described himself as "the most prominent African-American Republican in the state," and is known for both his opposition to the policies of Mayor Joe Riley and his advocacy of issues that he believes are important to low-income and black residents in his district.

He's accused of cashing campaign contribution checks worth nearly $14,000 between April 2000 and October 2003 but not depositing them into a campaign account, accepting unreported contributions above the legal limit and filing false financial reports.

Sanford's suspension of Campbell means that his seat, representing Charleston's 4th District, will be vacant until Campbell is acquitted or convicted, or until his term expires in January. The district includes the pricey Concord Park area, Charleston's struggling East Side neighborhood and the mostly rural Cainhoy peninsula.

Before the indictments were returned this week, Campbell said that for family reasons he wouldn't seek re-election to a third term and planned to leave South Carolina when his current term ends.

Campbell, 33, was in Virginia earlier this week at the home of his wife, Rashida Jeffers, who is expecting their first child within the month. Repeated attempts to reach him since the indictments were returned have been unsuccessful.

Mark Plowden, a spokesman for Attorney General Henry McMaster, said investigators have likewise been unsuccessful in their attempts to serve Campbell with the indictments or to speak with him.

"No one really knows for sure which is the best address for sending a certified letter," said Plowden, adding that a law enforcement agent left a message on Campbell's cell phone. "If he does not willingly comply with that attempt, Mr. McMaster said today he would instruct law enforcement to locate Mr. Campbell and return him to court."

City Councilman James Lewis said Thursday that he had spoken with Campbell several times, and that the councilman is aware of the indictments and his suspension from office.

"He was shocked," Lewis said. "He said: 'Just as I'm getting my life together, all this comes up.' "

Lewis said Campbell is planning to confer with his attorney about the indictments. Lewis said he was unsure where Campbell was at the time of their conversations.

Campbell said Tuesday that he planned to finish out his term on council and then join his wife and child and pursue a master's degree in business administration.

He had expected to announce his plans at a City Council meeting next week but confirmed widespread speculation about his re-election plans when questioned by a Post and Courier reporter. The indictments were handed down the following day.

Daniel Martin Jr., a lawyer who represents Campbell on unrelated criminal charges, couldn't be reached for comment Thursday. Martin represents Campbell on misdemeanor drug and traffic offenses stemming from two February arrests in Charleston and Summerville.

The charges related to his campaign are potentially more serious than those.

Misconduct in office carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail. In comparison, the second-offense marijuana possession charge Campbell faces in Charleston carries a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment.

Misconduct in office, unlike marijuana possession, also is an offense recognized by state law as a "crime of moral turpitude." The governor has the authority to suspend from office public officials indicted for crimes of moral turpitude.

"These are very serious charges," said Sanford spokesman Will Folks.

Folks had said Wednesday that the governor was likely to suspend Campbell after reviewing a certified copy of the indictments. Sanford took action Thursday in an executive order effective immediately.

"This action in no manner addresses the question of the guilt or innocence of Mr. Campbell and should not be construed as an expression of any opinion one way or another on such question," the order said.

The charges against Campbell stem from a nearly yearlong investigation by the State Ethics Commission, which began after a citizen provided the commission with information, according to Executive Director Herbert R. Hayden Jr.