Gibson Coleman Mistake: Filing Candidacy Reports with Ethics Commission

Fairfield County Sheriff Race Raises Questions on Campaign Finance Compliance

Discrepancies in Candidate’s Ethics and Election Commission Filings

The race for Fairfield County Sheriff has been marred with controversy surrounding campaign finance compliance. The Voice contacted Rick E. Gibson, one of the two challengers in the Sheriff’s race, on May 30th, 2024 and found that he had failed to file a pre-election campaign report with the S. C. Ethics Commission’s online database. Additionally, Gibson’s ethics filings have irregularities regarding a $5,000 contribution from his church that was later returned after being deemed above the $1,000 legal limit for contributions. Non-profits, including churches, are not allowed to make campaign contributions under South Carolina law. Gibson attributed the discrepancies in his filings due to a typing error. However, concerns were raised in the community regarding the campaign loan of $361,889 reported by Gibson. Candidates are required by law to disclose the source of loans, which originated from a business or a lending institution. Gibson clarified that it was a personal loan of $3,618.89 to cover his filing fee.

Section 8-13-1360 of South Carolina Law

Section 8-13-1360 of South Carolina Law requires candidates to report the total amount of all loans received during the reporting period along with the total amount of loans for the year to date. Furthermore, candidates must include the date, amount, name, and address of each commercial loan maker or guarantor. The law also mandates reporting of loan terms, interest rates, and existing balances. It is essential for candidates to closely adhere to the reporting requirements set forth by the law to ensure transparency and accountability.

Investigation into Wallace Coleman’s Candidacy

Another candidate for Fairfield County Sheriff, Wallace Coleman, has received a notice of a fine of $200 due to late filings of his initial 2024 report to the Ethics Commission, as well as his first-quarter report for 2024. However, a recent investigation conducted by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy has revealed that Coleman does not qualify to run for the Sheriff’s office as he is not a Class 1 law enforcement officer. According to South Carolina Law, Sec. 23-11-110 (A)(5)(a), a candidate for the Sheriff’s office must be a Class 1 law enforcement officer. Coleman, despite filing an affidavit stating that he has 14 years of experience as a Class 1 law enforcement officer, has not received any Class 1 certification training. In contrast, Class 1 Law Enforcement candidates must complete 12 weeks of basic law enforcement training taught by the Criminal Justice Academy. This serves as a reminder for candidates to ensure compliance with legal qualifications when filing for office.

Adherence to South Carolina Legal Requirements for Filing Run for Sheriff

State law Sec. 23-11-110 (B)(1)(A) requires approval of a candidate’s sworn affidavits by a state political party for candidates filing in their jurisdiction for the office of Sheriff. The executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, Jay Parmley, confirmed that they had approved Coleman’s filing based on his affidavit, and if the affidavit is not correct, the party cannot take any action now. Therefore, it is crucial for political parties to undertake due diligence and ensure that candidates meet all legal requirements before approving and supporting them.

Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery Elected for Re-Election

In conclusion, the race for the Fairfield County Sheriff’s office has raised concerns surrounding campaign finance compliance and legal qualifications for candidacy. While there have been controversies regarding the ethics and election commission filings of some of the candidates, Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery has filed all his campaign reports on time. It is a stark reminder for all candidates to ensure they adhere to the legal requirements set forth by South Carolina Law when filing to run for Sheriff.

Originally Post From https://www.blythewoodonline.com/2024/05/gibson-coleman-misstep-in-filing-candidacy-reports-with-ethics-commission/