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This Just In
by Free-Times Writers

Columbia Lobbyist Larry Marchant Pulled for DUI

by Corey Hutchins, December 29th, 2009 12:25pm

High-profile Columbia lobbyist Larry Marchant was arrested Dec. 23 on DUI charges, according to Columbia police spokesman Brick Lewis.

According to a police report obtained by Free Times, Marchant, 47, was pulled over for speeding and subsequently jailed after failing three field sobriety tests including an eye gaze test and a stand-on-one-leg test. The report states he refused to take a breathalyzer test.

Marchant is president of the Palmetto Policy Group, a Columbia-based lobbying firm, and founder of Black Label Strategy, a political consulting firm. Marchant lobbies on behalf of the health insurance industry and for private school choice.

He has also done consulting work for Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer’s campaign for governor, according to two local political blogs, Wolfe Reports and FITS News.

Filed under: S.C. politics

Comments

Nothing new for Larry.

he loves to take the money from the right wing, but his life reads like a cheap dime store novel.

3 wives, being banned from the exclusive Woodlands Club and the Reserve, the list goes on.

He and Bauer are peas and a pod.

Frank December 29th, 2009 06:42pm

why is this surpising considering mr. bauer's own driving escapades? we hire people like ourselves. i wonder if merchant also works for "those breathalyzers just aren't reliable you know and i like driving the wrong way on one way streets anyway" solicitor barney giese-a principled man who abhors drunken driving except when he does it. did merchant also work for thomas-i am a middle aged man making bad decisions so of course it is my fathers fault that i bought copious amounts of cocaine to give my equally anti-drug friends" ravenel. apparently mr. merchant also shared governor sanford's rather casual attitude toward the sanctity of marriage. i am so glad the republicans pride themselves as being the party of family values and law and order.

george December 30th, 2009 11:01am

So many lawmakers get behind the wheel boozed up in this state it's ridiculous.

Well, look whose advising them.

Observer December 30th, 2009 11:32am

Are you sure they aren't filming a remake of the Dukes of Hazzard in Columbia? We known Andre can speed through Columbia now Larry is following the leader. Do we really want an immature governor and his immature buddies leading our state? My dad always said, where there is smoke, there is fire. I hope we don't get burnt with another governor to embarrass the state.

Carl Epps December 30th, 2009 05:08pm

Corey Hutchins,
First of all i want to apologize for how much your life sucks...i mean yea all of us dread working in cubicles making 30,000 a year for a living..but covering stories on SC politicians and not even getting your story straight...why don't you do us a favor and go back to the Anderson Herald i know the free times is as low as you can go in Cola. but get that trash out of this town...and to all of you hating go back to your average state funded jobs...last time i checked Marchant's still making bank.

Mike May 4th 07:36pm

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