Date Posted: June 27, 2003

Sanford impressed with Shaw

Governor supports saving base from possible 2005 closure

Keith Gedamke / The Item

Gov. Mark Sanford, left, listens to a description of the 20th Maintenance Propulsion Flight shop’s mission from Master Sgt. Deen Burgess, center, and Tech. Sgt. Brent Freeman during his visit to Shaw on Thursday.

By BRADEN BUNCH
Item Staff Writer

   Gov. Mark Sanford, making his first official visit to Shaw Air Force Base, said Thursday he’s now more prepared to stress the positives of the military installation and work toward saving it during the next round of national Base Realignment and Closure.
   In 2005 the military is expected to conduct the next round of BRAC and close up to a quarter of the country’s military installations.
   Because of this, at the recommendation of his advisers, Sanford authorized giving $50,000 to the Sumter Base Defense Committee last month to help in its efforts to protect Shaw. After meeting with Shaw commanders to learn the base’s capabilities and with local politicians who are working to save the base, Sanford said one of the best tools to save the Sumter location is to accentuate both its unique capabilities and relationship with the surrounding community.
   Not only does being the home of U.S. Central Command Air Forces, or CENTAF, improve the base’s odds, Sanford said, but having the nearby Poinsett Electronic Combat Range — one of the only ranges on the East Coast — also gives the base an advantage over other installations.
   Speaking from the 20th Maintenance Group Propulsion Flight building where airmen repair and inspect the engines for both F-16 and A-10 airplanes, even though no A-10s are stationed at Shaw, Sanford noted the base’s ability to take on responsibilities is another strong advantage.
   “We could actually pick up other missions, whether it be here at Shaw, or in Charleston, or elsewhere,” Sanford said.
   The governor also praised the efforts of the Sumter community to retain, and possibly expand, the base.
   “A lot of things have been done that people don’t recognize right now, but it’s going to be our responsibility in telling the Shaw story in highlighting those things,” Sanford said.
   “Whether it’s with the county-wide zoning, or whether a whole host of other things, what this local community does to, frankly, help this base with what it has to do on a daily basis, it’s (created) a very unique niche that this base holds in terms of great community relations,” the governor said.
   Sanford’s advisers, joining him on the trip, agreed the local base retention efforts are impressive.
   “You need to continue what you’re doing,” said retired Maj. Gen. James L. Gardner, a member of the Governor’s Military Base Advisory Committee. “You’ve got the best community-base relationship of anything we’ve seen.”
   The governor said he and the committee plan to visit all the bases in South Carolina over the next few months in order to be able to help with the specific needs of each location.
   Each one of those communities, like Sumter, received $50,000 to fund efforts to save their installations.
   Sumter City Councilman Bob Galliano, who also attended the tour, said the governor was constantly asking questions to learn as much as he could about Shaw and the surrounding area.
   Galliano had been asked by Mayor Joe McElveen, who was busy trying a case in Columbia and could not attend, to represent the city during Sanford’s visit.
   “I think he has a good understanding as to why Shaw Air Force Base has a big economic impact on the Sumter community,” Galliano said of the governor.
   “He showed a sincere interest. This was not just a political ploy.”

   Contact Staff Writer Braden Bunch at bradenb@theitem.com or 803-774-1222.

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