STATE — The state’s Lt. Governor is calling on Gov. Mark Sanford to resign.

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer asked Sanford to resign — and pledged to stay out of the 2010 governor’s race if Sanford does so.

Bauer had been widely expected to announce a candidacy for governor.

In the past, he and the governor have been able to put aside their differences and work toward the betterment of the state, Bauer said.

“Throughout Gov. Sanford’s recent controversies, I’ve remained supportive in order to provide stability to our government,” Bauer said. “Now, however, things have changed. It is in my opinion that the best interests of South Carolina can no longer be served by the current administration.”

The governor has been under fire since admitting in June to a yearlong affair with an Argentine woman, and a recent AP investigation into Sanford’s alleged use of state planes for private business has caused lawmakers to begin impeachment discussions.

State law allows use of the planes only for official state business.

Attorney Gen. Henry McMaster, who officially announced his own candidacy for governor Tuesday, has asked the state Ethics Commission to look into possible ethics violations regarding the governor’s air travel.

Sanford has not said whether he will allow the commission’s probe to be open to the public or not, and has repeatedly said he will not resign.

The fallout from Sanford’s admission, and the resulting investigations, is keeping the state from moving forward, Bauer said.

“The serious misconduct that has already been revealed, along with lingering questions and continuing distractions, make it virtually impossible for our state to solve the critical problems we’re facing without a change in leadership,” he said.

If Sanford resigns, Bauer said he will not announce his own candidacy, focusing instead on serving as the state’s interim leader before the 2010 election.

“While I’d certainly prefer to serve a full four-year term as governor, the work that must be done prior to the 2010 gubernatorial election cannot be ignored,” he said. “With unemployment at an all-time high, and our state budget in real trouble, the needs of the people cannot wait.”

Resigning now would “spare the taxpayers the expense and distraction of the multiple legal processes now being considered,” Bauer said.

Republican leaders have indicated that impeaching Sanford will be among the topics discussed at a GOP retreat this weekend.

Should Sanford not resign, Bauer urged the legislature to act quickly to resolve the issue.

“This year, so the 2010 session of the General Assembly is not dominated by impeachment proceedings taking away from far more important issues, like bringing jobs to our state, balancing the budget and improving education,” he said.

Reacting to Bauer’s announcement, gubernatorial candidate Rep. Gresham Barrett said it’s up to the governor to end the issue.

“My position remains the same,” Barrett said. “Regardless of what the Lt. Governor or legislature does or doesn’t do, I believe the Governor is the one person who can step up and put an end to this before it becomes a three ring circus.

“With unemployment hovering around 12 percent, this is a time that South Carolina needs to be 100 percent focused on job creation and economic development. And when we’re talking about impeachment, special sessions or this press conference, we’re not talking about jobs,” he continued. “That’s why this continuing controversy only sets us back.