Governor's Spokesman's Free Use Of Corvette Questioned

Folks Charged Nothing For Eight Days' Use

POSTED: 10:36 am EDT June 2, 2004

UPDATED: 11:16 am EDT June 2, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford got to drive in a convertible Corvette for free last month while his car was getting new tires.

South Carolina law does not bar state workers from taking gifts unless they are intended to influence decisions. But some are concerned with who loaned Sanford's spokesman Will Folks the sports car.

The car was loaned to Folks by Columbia Dodge dealer J.T. Gandolfo. The long-time car dealer was appointed by Sanford in 2002 to lead a task force charged with overhauling the state Division of Motor Vehicles.

Gandolfo said he takes full responsibility for the situation, but he says he will not accept any money from his friend for the car.

When the Corvette was parked in the Statehouse garage, the car had Gandolfo's dealer tags displayed.

State law says those tags may be used only for test driving purposes or for a prospective buyer. Gandolfo says Folks was not a potential buyer.

Folks drove the car for eight days.