McKie Still Owes $51,750

Why does Amelia McKie still owe $51,750 to the South Carolina Ethics Commission?

Decision & Order No. C-2017-023 was announced on July 3, 2018 by the S.C. Ethics Commission in resolution to a complaint filed by the Commission itself on September 1, 2016 against McKie on numerous grounds. The Decision & Order specified a fine and terms of payment.

When no payment was made by December 31, 2018, a penalty was added and the total amount owed by her reached $51,750.

When no payment was made by her by June 30, 2019, the Commission filed for a Judgment in Richland County Common Pleas Court. Court Case No. 2019CP4003809. You can see the court record here. 

What happens next?

The South Carolina Department of Revenue (DOR) is the collection arm for debts owed to the State. The DOR will rake off 22% as its collection fee under its Setoff or GEAR collection procedures. 

Is this a big deal? Is there any reason that it shouldn't be a big deal?

McKie, who claims to be a legitimate member of the Richland 2 School Board, should have stepped down a long time ago. Instead, she shows up and - worst - is allowed to sit at the Board, even though there is a remaining question about whether it is actually a legal member of the Board. She did not follow state law after being re-elected on November 6, 2018.

State law says you must (first) file your Statement of Economic Interests Report (SEI) with the S.C. Ethics Commission and then take the oath of office. Instead, she did it her way; she took the oath of office and began serving. After the Independent Voice of Blythewood & Fairfield County (newspaper) called her on it, she filed her SEI.

Being re-elected meant she was "qualified" to serve, but she was not yet eligible to serve. She became eligible to serve on December 4, 2018, after filing her SEI. But she has never taken the oath of office since December 4, 2018. 

All she has to do is raise her right hand and take the oath of office. Why won't she do this?

Until she does take the oath legally, she is not a legitimate board member. And the School District should not be paying her $900 per month to be a Trustee. 

To me, this looks like an illegal expenditure of public funds by the School District. Does it look this way to you, too? Please comment below.