Ken Ard (politician)
Ken Ard | |
---|---|
88th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina | |
In office January 12, 2011 – March 9, 2012 | |
Governor | Nikki Haley |
Preceded by | André Bauer |
Succeeded by | Glenn F. McConnell |
Personal details | |
Born | Pamplico, South Carolina, U.S. | December 18, 1963
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Tammy Ard |
Children | 3 |
James Kenneth Ard (born December 18, 1963) is an American politician who served as the 88th lieutenant governor of South Carolina from January 12, 2011 to March 9, 2012.
Early life and education
Ard was born in Pamplico, South Carolina. The son of Jimmy and Margie Ard, he graduated from Hannah Pamplico High School. He attended Wofford College, but did not earn a degree.[1]
Career
He began working for the family business, Double A Body Builders, while still in high school. The company designs, manufactures and installs custom-built truck bodies. Ard sold his interest in the company to his brother in 2008, in order to more fully dedicate his time to public service.
Ard was elected to the Florence County Council in 2004. He was elected chairman of the Florence County Republican Party in 2009.
Lieutenant governor of South Carolina
South Carolina's previous lieutenant governor,
In the general election, Ard faced Democrat Ashley Cooper. Ard won the election, with 55% to Cooper's 45%,[2] and was sworn in as the 88th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina on January 12, 2011.
As Lieutenant Governor, he served as President of the South Carolina Senate and oversaw South Carolina's Office on Aging.
Campaign finance conviction and resignation from office
Ard was a rising star within the South Carolina Republican Party before ethics investigations caused his political career to collapse.[3] In 2012, the State Ethics Commission charged him with 69 counts of using campaign money for personal use and 23 counts of failing to disclose campaign expenses during the 2010 election for lieutenant governor.[3] In June 2012, Ard settled the civil ethics charges relating to the 2010 campaign by paying a $48,400 civil penalty for 106 ethics violations and reimbursing his campaign slightly over $12,000.[3]
Following the Ethics Commission investigation, a state
Later clear
Five months after pleading guilty and resigning as lieutenant governor, Ard became a
Personal life
Ken is married to his wife, Tammy. They have three children. They are members of Southside Baptist Church in Florence, South Carolina.
References
- ^ Hutchins, Corey. "An Ard Rain's Gonna Fall: The Political Obituary of Ken Ard". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
- ^ "South Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2010".
- ^ a b c d e f Clif LeBlan, Ard resigns, is indicted, gets probation, The State (March 10, 2012).
- ^ a b Jeremy Borden, Three years after guilty plea, Ken Ard at ease as talk-show host, Post & Courier (February 27, 2015).