COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina State Ethics Commission (SCSEC) has released its decision and order regarding the case filed against former Lexington-Richland 5 School Board member Ken Loveless.
An initial hearing was held on February 16, 2023, after Kim Benson filed a complaint with the commission over Loveless' alleged conflict of interest in the construction of a new elementary school in the district. These are the facts presented in the case, according to the ethics commission.
- Contract Construction was awarded the contract to build Piney Woods Elementary School in Lex-Rich 5 on December 19, 2018.
- Contract Construction then hired Loveless Commercial Contracting Inc., owned and operated by Ken Loveless, as a subcontractor on a SLED forensics lab on March 12, 2020.
- On March 24, 2020, Loveless writes a letter to then-District Superintendent Christina Melton, raising concerns about perceived problems with the construction of the school and the district's contract with Contract Construction. Loveless gave Melton a two week deadline to respond to his letter.
- On June 15, 2020, Greg Hughes, president of Contract Construction, gives an update to Lex-Rich school board on the elementary school's construction progress. Loveless questioned change orders regarding construction and what he thought were unsatisfactory answers to his March 24 letter.
- In a September 14, 2020, district board meeting, Hughes gives another update and board member Ed White questions Loveless' letter and his company's subcontract with Contract Construction.
- In a February 8, 2021, district board meeting, Loveless acknowledged his subcontract with Contract Construction and then vows to recuse himself "from and all votes, deliberations, and other actions on any matter that comes before the Board of Trustees relating to Contract Construction."
The commission panel found Loveless did not recuse himself from discussions regarding the building of the school during two district board meetings, and wrote a letter to the construction company that was awarded the contract -- all three actions were considered by the ethics panel to be conflicts of interest on Loveless' part.
Loveless was issued a public reprimand and ordered to pay a civil penalty of $5,250 ($1,750 for each count) and an administrative fee of $900, for a total of $6,150.
