It came as a jolt to me, and I hope to others, that former Gov. Mark Sanford has entered the race to be our next congressman.

His confidant, our state senator, Tom Davis, was quoted at a recent political meeting as saying, "Sanford has walked the walk." He sure has. He walked out on the people of South Carolina when he was their governor. He lied when he told his associates that he was going on a walking tour in the Appalachian Mountains when in reality he was going to his soulmate in Argentina.

Sanford's record while serving in Congress shows no great accomplishments. When he was governor he opposed reducing the sales tax on food, a truly regressive tax. He is a career politician, and in my opinion, is pining for that Washington congressional life where he can assemble a staff, attend cocktail parties and receptions on an almost daily basis and receive a hefty paycheck and pension.

There are many better choices than Sanford to represent us in Washington.

New blood is needed.

Charles Mitchell

Bluffton