Events leading to Lt Gov Ard’s resignation

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Here are key dates in the political career of former South Carolina Lt. Gov. Ken Ard and the investigation that led to his resignation and guilty pleas to campaign finance charges Friday.

— 2004: Ard elected to Florence County council.

— Summer 2009: Ard decided to run for Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.

— June 2010: Ard wins 34 percent of vote in primary, then beats Army reservist Bill Connor in runoff with 61 percent of the vote.

— November 2010: Ard beats lawyer and Democratic candidate Ashley Cooper in general election. Ard gets 55 percent of the vote, some 35,000 more votes than fellow Republican Gov. Nikki Haley.

— February 2011: Ethics commission announced it has begun investigation into Ard’s campaign finances.

— March 2011: South Carolina Ethics Commission charges Ard with 106 civil violations

— June 2011: Ard admits to civil ethics violations, agrees to pay $48,400 fine and reimburse the state more than $24,000.

— July 2011: State grand jury begins criminal investigation of Ard.

— January 2012: Ard presides over new session of South Carolina Senate as grand jury continues its probe.

— March 9, 2012: Ard resigns as lieutenant governor. Attorney general announces seven-count campaign finance indictment against Ard three hours later. An hour after that, Ard pleads guilty to all charges in a Richland County courtroom and is sentenced to five years of probation, a $5,000 fine and 300 hours of community service.