Ken Ard
James Ken Ard, (b.in Pamlico, South Carolina) is a former Republican Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. He was first elected on November 2, 2010 to a term that was not scheduled to end until 2014, but he resigned on March 9, 2012 amid a criminal investigation into his campaign spending.[1]
Prior to running for the lieutenant governor's seat, Ard spent six years as part of the County Council in Florence County. In 2009, he was elected chair of the Florence County Republican Party. He is also a past President of Double A Body Builder, a truck company in his native Pamlico.
Political career
Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina (2011-2012)
Noteworthy events
Campaign finance
In February 2011, the South Carolina Ethics Commission began reviewing Ard's post-election spending.[2] When the investigation concluded, he was cited with 107 ethics violations. Ard settled with the commission by paying a large fine, covering the cost of the investigation, and reimbursing his campaign for over $12,121 in unauthorized expenditures.[3]
The commission's report also said that Ard misled investigators about purchases made with campaign funds on more than one occasion.[4] The report caught the attention of Attorney General Alan Wilson and prompted his office to review Ard's case to determine whether or not criminal charges would be warranted.
When Ard resigned, he set off a mini-succession crisis that eventually resulted in a constitutional amendment to reform the lieutenant governorship.
Issues
Presidential preference
2012
Ken Ard endorsed Newt Gingrich in the 2012 presidential election.[5]
Elections
2010
Ard placed first in the June 8 primary but not by a large enough margin to avoid a runoff. The runoff took place on June 22, with Ard defeating Bill Connor by a margin of 61.34% to 38.66%.
Ard faced Ashley Cooper (D) in the general election on November 2, 2010.
| South Carolina Lieutenant Governor, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Ken Ard |
55.2% | 735,089 | |
| Democratic | Ashley Cooper | 44.8% | 596,620 | |
| Write-In | Various | 0.1% | 1,012 | |
| Total Votes | 1,332,721 | |||
| Election results via South Carolina State Election Commission | ||||
See also
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Married to his wife, Tammy, for 20 years, Ard has three children, Jesse, Mason, and Libby. The Ards belong to Southside Baptist Church in Florence.
See also
External links
- James Ken Ard campaign website
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- James Ken Ad on Facebook
- James Ken Ard on Twitter
Footnotes
- ↑ Washington Post, "SC's lieutenant governor resigns amend criminal probe of campaign spending for personal items," Friday March 9, 2012
- ↑ WIS News 10, "Ethics commission reviewing Lt. Gov's post-election spending," Feb 2, 2011
- ↑ Talking Points Memo, "SC Attorney General may investigate Lt. Gov who spent campaign cash on a PlayStation," July 8, 2011
- ↑ The Island Packet, "Criminal inquiry justified in Ard's ethics violations," July 7, 2011
- ↑ CNN, "Gingrich gets vote from S.C. lieutenant governor," January 17, 2012
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