Robinson faces $43,600 in fines, re-files campaign reports
Published: September 23, 2009
Updated: September 24, 2009
Florence city councilman Ed Robinson faces $48,800 in fines over incomplete statements of economic interest, a matter he said he’s clearing up with the S.C. State Ethics Commission.
Robinson said the fines started after he submitted reports without realizing he hadn’t signed them.
“I thought everything was fine because it was filed,” Robinson said in a phone interview Wednesday.
The commission attempted to reach him by mail, he said, but he didn’t receive the letters because he had moved to a new Florence residence.
“It’s just a matter of whose fault is it? Should I have contacted them when I moved? I probably should have, but you know, sometimes you don’t think about things,” he said with a laugh.
Robinson said he learned of the fines from a news report on Monday and that he called the commission Tuesday to settle the matter.
In the end, he had to re-file the statements of economic interest, and he’s unsure of any fines he ultimately might have to pay, he said.
A representative of Robinson’s contacted the commission in January and said the forms would be filed, which didn’t happen until Tuesday, according to the commission.
Robinson was fined $24,400 on two occasions, Dec. 18 and 23, for filing incomplete 2007 and 2008 statements of economic interest, according to the Ethics Commission.
The commission’s debtors list states that Robinson owes a lower amount — $43,600 — but that list’s most recent update was Aug. 26.
The debtors list, available online at http://ethics.sc.gov/aboutus/reportsandpolicies/Debtors+List.htm, acknowledges that some candidates and lobbyists who are listed might be in the process of being removed from the list after resolving their debts.
Robinson is not in the process of being taken off the list since the last update, according to the commission.
In addition to mailing letters, the commission makes telephone calls and other personal contact with the people on the debtors list. It also sends the list to the S.C. Department of Revenue for collection.
Politicians can still run for office if they are on the debtors list and can pay their penalties with campaign funds, according to the commission.
Earlier this week, news reports centered on more than $300,000 in Ethics Commission fines levied against Horry County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland. Horry County councilman Marion Foxworth also owes $3,700, according to the commission.
The following Pee Dee politicians also have accrued more than $1,000 in fines to the commission, according to the debtors list:
Chesterfield County
- Tammy C. Williams, Ruby School Advisory Board — $17,200
- William S. Tarlton, Ruby Town Council — $4,600
Darlington County
- Wayne G. Chapman, Darlington City Council candidate — $30,000
Florence County
- Ronald Benjamin, board of the S.C. Commission for the Blind — $187,594
- Sonny B. Belin, Florence School District 2 board candidate — $6,600
- Clarence Joe, Timmonsville Town Council — $6,420
- Gene Witherspoon, Florence School District 4 board — $5,600
- Lawrence S. Kennedy Jr., Florence School District 2 board candidate — $2,200
Lee County
- Robert M. Stokes, Lee County Elections Commission — $23,700
Williamsburg County
- Stanley Pasley, Williamsburg County supervisor — $6,300
- Joshua Gaskins Sr., Williamsburg County School Board — $2,600
- Kerry D. Singleton, Greeleyville Town Council — $1,928
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
“The commission attempted to reach him by mail, he said, but he didn’t receive the letters because he had moved to a new Florence residence.“
Ed call me before you move next time. I have moved three separate times in the city of Florence and every single time I have filled out a “change of address” with the post office right here in Florence. That way ALL of my mail is re-directed to me. How did you get your utility bills or those letters from constituents? I guess all those campaign contributions got lost too. Try a little harder in the excuse department and pay the fines like anyone else would have too.
Got it right Really!!!!!
They will all get out of it. It was on the news tonight that they are fined $100 a day for the days that they are late with their statements of economic interest. If they do not pay the fine it builds until they cant afford to pay then the Ethics Commission forgives the fine. So there is no measure of punishment involved. Its just Politicians doing whatever they want.
Ed Robinson does not have 43K to pay anybody! His broke a*& will get out of it somehow!
If you look at the full report dead head Ed’s fines are paltry compared some. There is one guy with fines close to $500,000. Collect all of them and the state’s deficit goes away,(almost).
At least the NMB city council has the fortitude to ask the Governor to send their derelict mayor packing. Why won’t the Florence council do the same for Ed you ask? I wish I knew. Remember the power of the vote. Next year may be our last chance to do so an save the country from doom if we can last that long.
We need to take small steps. Lets deal with our local Politicians before we worry about the State Crooks. Robinson continually violates any law he wants and claims it was a simple mistake, until he is cornered, then he screams Racism as loud as he can. The Man needs to be kicked out of office before he does anymore damage to Florence.
Some of the comments just prove, sometimes nothing is ever good enough.
And, give them what they ask for and they just want more.
Smile everyone and have a great day!
I have read the comments of all of you and agree to the fullest that “Ed” is realy a character! An ignorant one at that! He gives the dumbest reasons while interviewing and I just can not master the conception of Why,How, and When!!!!
However, I equally agree with commonsense that why was there no story regarding Ronald Benjamin, board of the S.C. Commission for the Blind — $187,594?
I am no supporter of Ed Robinson. Honestly I think the governor should remove him from office but it is interesting to me how he was singled out regarding his fines, yet there is a politician that has a much larger fine. Was it not important how Ronald Benjamin has a $187,594 fine? Isn’t there a story there? That amount is completed ridiculous. Yes Ed Robinson is/was wrong. He always is, in my opinion. But shouldn’t the news be investigated equally? This is not equal coverage but I suppose it is typical behavior of SCNOW.com.
“It’s just a matter of whose fault is it? Should I have contacted them when I moved? I probably should have, but you know, sometimes you don’t think about things,” he said with a laugh…....Ed Robinson
Do you ever think about things, Ed? Whose fault is it Ed? Ummmm….yours. But I am sure you will find someone else to blame (or pay).
Advertisement