Reserve Deputy Coroner Robert Haythorn was named Aiken County's interim coroner by Gov. Mark Sanford. Ron Cockerille/Staff

Interim coroner is named

AIKEN -South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford appointed Aiken County Reserve Deputy Coroner Robert Haythorn as the countyís interim corner Friday, denying the late Sue Townsend's request that her chief deputy, Tim Carlton, be named to the temporary post.

ADVERTISEMENT

Have a thought? Go to the Forums or Chat.

Subscribe  E-mail this story  Write a letter to the Editor  Printer-friendly version  Get news on your PDA  Get e-mail headlines

The governor faced pressure from Aiken County Republican Party Chairman David Nix and state Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, who said they didnít want Mr. Carlton selected because it would have given him an unfair advantage over the three other Republicans running in the June 8 primary.

Because Mr. Carlton has declared his candidacy, both local Republican leaders favored naming a "caretaker" to temporarily fill the post until voters can choose a successor in November for Mrs. Townsend.

Mrs. Townsend served almost 22 years in office as a five-term Democrat.

She announced her retirement in January and died Feb. 3 of cancer.

Mr. Haythorn, 68, a Republican who has served as an on-call deputy corner and investigator since 1996, said he will not run in the primary.

"I donít have a personal agenda," said Mr. Haythorn, a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot for 11 years. "I am just helping out until they get through the election." Mr. Haythorn has gone through state training as a coroner, an accident scene investigator and a suicide prevention specialist, said Will Folks, the governor's press secretary.

"The governor simply felt it was important to appoint someone who was a good steward of the office until the people of Aiken County can decide on Mrs. Townsend's successor," Mr. Folks said.

Mr. Nix said he was happy the governor made the decision so the filing for the office can begin.

Mr. Nix said there was no intention of demeaning the memory of Mrs. Townsend.

"The political reality is that she was a Democrat and you have a Republican governor making the appointment," he said.

But on the eve of Mrs. Townsendís Feb. 6 funeral, Mr. Nix had sharper words over Mrs. Townsend's letter to Mr. Sanford last month recommending Mr. Carlton's appointment.

"I felt it was inappropriate for Sue to recommend her chief deputy to get the job," Mr. Nix said.

"It was inappropriate for Mrs. Townsend, a Democrat, to write a letter to the governor," the chairman said.

Mr. Carlton said he still plans on running for the position in June, but he said he was not disappointed with the governor's decision.

"I have known Robert for the past six years and I am looking forward to working with him," he said. "We will still provide top-notch services, and I think he can help us do that."

So far, two other Republicans, retired South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper Bill Cole and Aiken County emergency services coordinator Phil Clarke, and one Democratic mortician, Ed Gladd, have declared their candidacies well before the March filing period.

South Carolina Bureau Chief Jim Nesbitt contributed to this article.

Reach Peter G. Gilchrist and Karen Ethridge at (803) 648-1395.

--From the Saturday, February 21, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle