By FITSNEWS || S.C. Rep. Kris Crawford has resigned his seat in the S.C. House of Representatives.
The Florence, S.C. lawmaker – the longest-serving physician in the S.C. General Assembly – tells FITS his decision was motivated by a desire to spent more time with his family, more time working at his medical practice and more time enjoying his newest hobby, Brazilian Jiu jitsu.
Crawford – who was first elected to the House in 2006 – will step down immediately in an effort to expedite a special election for the District 63 seat. That’s interesting considering voters just reelected him to a fifth term last month.
A few years ago Crawford was viewed as a likely challenger to S.C. Sen. Hugh Leatherman – whose power over South Carolina politics has since become unrivaled. Of course shortly after signaling his intentions, Crawford was hit with allegations of tax fraud. In 2012, he was found guilty of failing to pay his taxes in a timely manner and forced to pay a $10,000 fine. Voters forgave him, though … electing him twice in the aftermath of the verdict.
But he never challenged Leatherman …
Sources in Florence tell former U.S. Congressional candidate Jay Jordan is mulling a bid for the seat. We suspect other names are likely to be bandied about in the coming days.
Not surprisingly, Crawford’s resignation fueled speculation of a possible connection to the ongoing federal-state investigation of corruption at the S.C. State House – which has already brought down former Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell and threatens to ensnare other powerful members of the legislature.
Is that speculation warranted? Not according to Crawford …
“I haven’t been contacted in any way about any probe or any similar thing,” Crawford told FITS, adding his decision was solely about “profession and family.”
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18 comments
Is the IRS investigating him again?
It wasn’t IRS. It was DOR. And DOR is headed by a Florence crony now. No worries there for the hometown crowd.
It’s Harrell. He’ll change his name to Migilicuty, move to Florence and state an Allstate firm, buy a small ranch house and run.
Is he a target in the State/Fed investigation of the cockroaches in the SCGeneral Assembly?
Yep.
“….Crawford told FITS, adding his decision was solely about “profession and family…”
So much for putting family first – asshole
Me thinks either some light his just burned this cockroach a new asshole or he is hearing shoe leather stepping his way
Fucking Cockroach
Why the hell didn’t he decide this six months ago? Now taxpayers have to pay for another election, and I suspect some of his campaign donors are wondering why he solicited contributions if he was going to pull a DeMint. Wonder what he really used that money for.
Maybe for someone to get a boob job and tuck.
He ought to pay for the expenses of the special election out of his campaign fund.
BTW, Ken Ard may be running for this seat, per the Florence newspaper.
The median IQ of the General Assembly just dropped, but the overall likability just increased dramatically
Yeah, but with a tax cheat gone, the overall ethics likely improved a little.
very little….
I love it when these maggots put the taxpayers to the expense of a special election when there is absolutely no reason for it that makes sense, particularly when they just got re-elected less than 6 weeks ago.
Maggot.
He could have easily waiting till November 2015, too. He is under investigation. Cut a deal to either resign or be arrested? :-)
He’s lying. And it will come out.
The taxpayers should only have to pay for a special election in the event of a death or impeachment. Otherwise the elected official giving up his or her seat should be expected to pay the expenses of a special election.
“I haven’t been contacted in any way about any probe or any similar thing,” Crawford told FITS, adding his decision was solely about “profession and family.”
Translation:
“An indictment is imminent. I hope they’ll go easy on me since I resigned.”
Did you not hear he took up Brazilian Jiu jitsu.!!!!!!!! Priorities people, priorities!!!!