In comments Tuesday, Gov. Sanford said he has decided to join his unit if called to action because "I made a commitment and I am going to keep it." But he also took an oath of office as governor to serve as the state's chief executive. That oath should take precedence.

Mr. Sanford's desire to follow through on his Reserve commitment is understandable. There have been a number of legislators, for example, who have served when called up to active duty, even when the Legislature has been in session.

But the governor is in a different category than that of a legislator. Unlike the part-time role of a lawmaker, the governor is a statewide elected official with a full-time obligation to govern the state. If he is conflicted over his competing responsibilities, he should recognize that his obligation to the state of South Carolina is of far greater importance than the role he would play in the military.

And there is at least one constitutional question. The state constitution says: "No person while governor shall hold any office or other commission (except in the militia) under the authority of this state, or of any other power." Further, courts also have ruled that when there are dual office conflicts, the presumption is that the last oath takes precedence and the first is abandoned. Mr. Sanford's most recent pledge was to serve the people of the state as governor.

Practically speaking, Mr. Sanford is a fairly recent enlistee in the Reserve and has not yet been fully trained for his position as a medical administrator. He has been commissioned as a lieutenant.

The new governor has an important reform program for South Carolina. He campaigned on that program, and outlined it in greater detail in his recent State of the State address. The residents of South Carolina should expect him to remain committed to putting his program into effect as governor, not turning it over to the lieutenant governor within a few weeks of taking office. Certainly, the state's budget crisis demands his immediate attention.

While Mr. Sanford is governor, he should either resign his commission in the Air Force Reserve or go on the inactive list until he has completed his term. His major responsibility is to the residents of South Carolina who elected him to lead their state.