Candidates for SC treasurer call for transparency after inspector general report

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The two Democratic candidates running for South Carolina state treasurer are calling for transparency in the office following a watchdog report released last week.

One of those candidates, Trav Robertson, held a press conference Monday, calling out what he believes is a lack of accountability involving state finances.

The state inspector general’s office released its report last week following a 13-month investigation requested by state lawmakers into the state treasurer’s office.

Report findings

The results of that report say the treasurer’s office made errors that cost the state about $65 million. The report says the money was taken away from the state’s general fund.

The inspector general’s report also says the treasurer’s office mismanaged millions of dollars meant for new voting machines. The report claims the office didn’t double-check if the state could afford to make its first payment on the $30 million in financing.

The investigation also revealed required financial reports were missing or incomplete.

The report does not allege any criminal activity, but it does cite moments of mismanagement and concerns over transparency from the state treasurer’s office.

Candidate responses

“This is not a political football, this is a real issue, that has real consequences for the people of this state, the municipalities, the special purpose districts, the counties, and our state government,” Robertson said.

Vincent Coe, who is running against Robertson for the Democratic nomination, said the issue is about protecting taxpayer money.

“It’s not the state treasurer’s money, it’s not the CG’s money, it’s not the state’s money, it’s the people’s money. A $1.8 billion mistake is just nonsense in the day and age that we live in and I just believe that we owe the citizens of South Carolina better,” Coe said.

Robertson, meanwhile, said he recognizes the money belongs to taxpayers.

“I recognize the fact that the money that comes in here belongs to them, and my word is that I’m not going to use this office like my own little piggy bank,” Robertson said.

Coe, a former bank examiner, said he wants to use his experience to address the issues.

“We have to make sure that taxpayer dollars are protected. I want to make sure that if folks are expecting their refund from the treasurer’s office, that is not delayed and it’s not misrouted and it’s not mismanaged,” Coe said.

Robertson said the state treasurer’s website needs to be updated with a dashboard that mirrors the comptroller general’s dashboard and is updated in real time.

Current treasurer responds

Curtis Loftis, the current state treasurer who is running unopposed on the Republican ticket, released a statement last week when the report was released.

“The report confirms an important truth: there was no finding of fraud, theft, personal enrichment, criminal misconduct or malfeasance by me or my office,” he said in part.

Loftis has repeatedly blamed both the former and current comptroller general for the financial discrepancy.

The state’s former comptroller general, who was also found to have known about this error, resigned in 2023 amid legislative scrutiny.

Robertson and Coe will be vying for the Democratic nomination in the June 9 primary.

The winner will face Loftis in November’s general election.

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