STATE — Republican leadership censured Governor Mark Sanford for his behavior leading up to and after his admission of an affair with an Argentine woman.

The Republican Party Executive Committee met last Monday night to discuss the Sanford scandal, said Pickens County Republican Party Chairman Phillip Bowers, who serves on the committee.

“The events of the past two weeks have been as divisive as they have

been disappointing for Republicans,” said State Republican Party Chairman Karen Floyd in a statement released after the vote. “But today has brought a large measure of resolution to a sad chapter in our State Party’s history. Republicans came together to speak with a unified voice, and now is the time for healing.

"Now is the time for healing for the Sanford family,” Floyd continued. We must pray for them – Mark, Jenny and their four beautiful boys. Now is the time for healing for the Republican Party. We must hold true to our core beliefs and re-commit to being Republican now more than ever before. And now is the time for healing for our great State.”

News of Sanford’s affair kicked off a firestorm of controversy as the media, — and state legislators— scrutinized the governor’s behavior during the last year, and raised questions about whether public funds were used to finance the relationship between Sanford and Maria Belen Chapur.

Earlier this month, a SLED review of the governor’s travel records cleared Sanford of any financial wrongdoing in relation to trips to visit his mistress in Argentina and New York.

The censure resolution passed by the committee reads: “Whereas, the South Carolina Republican Party adopts this Resolution of Censure as a unified expression of the Party’s opinion in the recent matter relating to Governor Marshall Clement Sanford, Jr.; and

“Whereas, the South Carolina Republican Party adheres to a set of core principles and beliefs, primarily but not exclusively expressed in our Platform; and

“Whereas, the revelations regarding Governor Sanford’s private and public conduct demonstrate repeated failures to act in accordance with these core principles and beliefs; and

“Whereas, Governor Sanford’s conduct, in addition to falling below the standards expected of Republican elected officials, has breached the public’s trust and confidence in his ability to effectively perform the duties of his office; and

“Whereas, a formal admonishment by the South Carolina Republican Party is appropriate and necessary and, barring further revelations, will be the Party’s last word on the matter;

“Therefore, be it resolved, that the South Carolina Republican Party does, with great regret, censure Governor Mark Sanford for his recent conduct."

State Republicans are now focused on moving ahead, Floyd said.

"The task ahead of us is tall,” she said. “But as Ronald Reagan said, the best days are ahead of us. We are now united and we pledge to focus our energy and efforts on finding conservative solutions to the challenges facing South Carolina."

Though many legislators have called for the governor’s resignation following continuing developments after his admission, Gov. Sanford has pledged to spend the rest of 18 months in office “rebuilding trust” between himself and the state’s constituents.