Sanford Away Again, This Time with Wife

http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2009/07/15//news/doc4a5e7d815bc18475187526.txt

Sanford skips state meetings for reconciliation trip
By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer  Wednesday, July 15, 2009

COLUMBIA — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford headed out of state Wednesday for personal time with his wife, as the two try to reconcile, and skipped a meeting with a top economic adviser ahead of what’s expected to be more bad economic news including rising joblessness.



Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer refused to say where the Sanfords were headed or how they were getting there, but allowed they won’t be traveling with their four sons. Sanford is in the midst of trying to reconcile with first lady Jenny Sanford after a tearful confession of an affair with an Argentine woman, Maria Belen Chapur.



“This trip is personal in nature, and we’re not going to offer any further comment,” Sawyer said. “The governor remains committed to repairing the damage he’s done to his marriage, and so it shouldn’t be any surprise that spending personal time with his wife is a part of that process.”



Sawyer said meetings skipped this week will be rescheduled.



A month ago when the state’s unemployment numbers came out and set a record, Sanford was with Chapur in Argentina. He later called her “the love of his life” and his “soul mate.”



Sanford had no public schedule this week, but had private meetings planned, including one with John Rainey, the chairman of the state Board of Economic Advisors. That state revenue oversight board is expected to reduce its forecast Thursday and likely trigger across-the-board spending cuts at agencies. The state’s spending has fallen by more than $1.2 billion in the past 12 months, or nearly a fifth.



On Friday, the state’s unemployment numbers are expected. South Carolina’s jobless rate in May was 12.1 percent, a record for the state and the nation’s third highest behind Michigan and Oregon. That news broke a day after Sanford slipped his security detail and headed to Argentina.



Legislators aren’t criticizing his effort to repair his marriage, but question his timing and ability to keep his eye on the state’s affairs.



The reconciliation effort “doesn’t negate the fact that we’ve got some serious, critical problems in the budget that is hemorrhaging every day because of the employment situation and the weak economy that requires our best efforts,” said state Sen. Larry Martin, a Pickens Republican who has called on Sanford to resign.



“I think his preoccupation with his personal life right now is certainly expected but doesn’t serve the state very well,” Martin said.

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