[© THE STATE]
By AARON GOULD SHEININ
A few things became crystal clear during a rollicking, belly-laugh dinner at the Lace House on Sunday. Gov. Mark Sanford and his wife, Jenny, can give as good as they get; three state senators in waiters’ liveries make a fine surprise; and $6,600 buys a night to remember.
“This is the most unusual of dinners, as you know,” Gov. Sanford told the assembled group— three Democratic state senators, a Republican senator, a Republican who wants to be governor, a lobbyist, a few more lawyers, a journalist and their spouses. “There is little chance this particular group will be gathered again.” The Sanfords played host Sunday to the winners of an auctioned dinner to benefit Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, where the four Sanford boys attend. Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, and lobbyist Dwight Drake paid $6,600 for the right to set the guest list for dinner with the first family.
The two had invited all three men who want to unseat Sanford. But only two—Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Aiken, and Lake Murray physician Oscar Lovelace, a Republican—accepted. Florence Mayor Frank Willis, a Democrat, said he had a conflict. No matter, there was more than enough fun for all. Guests arriving at the restored Lace House, on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion, found hors d’oeuvres such as “tax-me-more tenderloin bites” and “tiered-bureaucracy sushi display.”
Jenny Sanford took credit for the cheeky descriptions. During brief remarks over appetizers and cocktails, the governor said cutbacks had forced him to reduce staff at the Lace House, so he had arranged for some “surprise” help for the wait staff. Once everyone was settled at three round tables, appointed with official state china and silver, the surprises emerged: Republican Sens. Chip Campsen of Charleston, Larry Grooms of Berkeley and Greg Gregory of Lancaster—in waiters’ tuxedos. As Heathwood Hall’s Anne Weston shared the school’s mission, the diners sat politely, salads untouched, until an impatient Grooms shouted, “Will y’all start eating?” He later showed his prowess with bread tongs, tossing baked rolls across the room.
Tracy Hutto, the senator’s wife, produced a whistle, which she said would be given to someone to play referee, lest the political repartee become too biting. Drake, a Democrat who worked for Gov. Dick Riley, made sure the whistle was blown shortly after everyone sat down. “It occurred to me looking at all the senators here,” he said to Sanford, “this may be the most communication you’ve had with the Legislature.”
Sanford’s oldest son, Marshall, had the honors of blowing the whistle on Drake. The biting wit was bipartisan.
Campsen told the Democrats he couldn’t help but notice the dinner’s auction had benefited a private school. Campsen and Sanford support granting tax credits to parents to send their children to private schools.
“I’m glad to see y’all finally supporting school choice,” Campsen said. As Jenny Sanford shared the history of the Lace House, she said they had discovered a bed in a closet that once belonged to Arthur Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. “He used to carry it around with him,” she explained, looking right at Lovelace. “You might want to try that on the campaign.” The first lady went on to thank Weston for the work Heathwood does. She said it was important that her boys be able to attend the same school “for the four years we’re here.”
Of course, if Sanford is re-elected this year, it will be eight years. “Did you catch that, Moore?” Senate Minority Leader John Land, D-Clarendon, said to his compatriot, who wants to see the Sanfords stay for only four. “Oh, I caught it,” Moore said.
Gould Sheinin and his wife, Tracy, attended the dinner as invited guests of Hutto and Drake. Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658.