When Circuit Court Judge Carmen Mullen hears arguments in the sentencing hearing of former Rep. Rick Quinn (R-Lexington) on Monday, she will also be considering who should pay to replace him in the legislature.
While Judge Mullen has the discretion to add the cost of the special election to Quinn’s sentence, a bill is pending in the legislature to require prosecutors to include the cost of special elections to their sentencing recommendations.
Quinn was indicted by the state grand jury last April for misappropriating $4 million over a number of years in office.
At a December hearing, Quinn pled guilty to one misdemeanor charge of failing to report a $28,000 payment from the University of South Carolina. Special Prosecutor David Pascoe told Judge Mullen “there has been no one more corrupt than Rick Quinn.”
Judge Mullen has been asked to apply the state law (17-25-322) that allows a judge to require restitution to victims for financial damage.
“Rick Quinn has pled guilty to abusing the trust of his constituents, as well as misappropriating money,” said Brett Bursey, a resident of Quinn’s Lexington County district and director of the SC Progressive Network. “As a voter in House District 69 and a Lexington County taxpayer, I will be paying a portion of the county’s and State Election Commission’s costs to hold an election for Quinn’s replacement.”
Chris Whitmire of the State Election Commission cited the county’s estimated cost at $17,000 for opening a limited number of precincts. The SEC’s cost is projected to be $36,000.
“It’s going to cost state taxpayers over $1 million to replace the legislators recently convicted of crimes,” said John Crangle, the Network’s government relations director. “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen it,” he said. “I haven’t had representation in the Senate since last April because John Courson was charged with embezzling campaign funds. If he’s found guilty, county and state taxpayers face a bill of over $100,000 for a special election.”
Sen. Mike Fanning (D-Fairfield) filed the Special Elections Restitution Act (S-533) in January 2017, before the recent indictments of Quinn and suspended Sen. Courson. The bill has been assigned to a Judiciary subcommittee chaired by Sen. Chip Campsen (R-Charleston), with Sen. Tom Young (R-Aiken) and Sen. Fanning.