State Representative Tracy Edge (R-Horry County) sent Gov. Sanford a letter Friday that asked for Atlantic Beach Mayor Retha Pierce to be removed from office.
The request came after SC Highway Patrol troopers arrested Pierce on Wednesday in Marion County and charged her with DUI. Pierce said she was not drinking and that she blew 0.0 on a field breathalyzer.
Edge told Sanford in his letter that Pierce's continued legal troubles cause a problem and that the town would be better off without her.
Pierce has been in arrested three times in 2009 including a January arrest at town hall for trespassing and disorderly conduct and an April charge of hit-and-run after an accident in Atlantic Beach. Pierce also has a 2007 resisting arrest charge. That trial last year ended in a mistrial, though the solicitor's office says they plan to re-try it.
On Saturday, Pierce rejected Edge's letter to the governor and said he "isn't the kind of representative he should be."
Pierce said Edge is a representative of Horry County but doesn't care about Atlantic Beach. She contends Edge is part of a "shadow group" trying to frame her to get her out of office.
"He should be trying to get help in Atlantic Beach as much he's trying to dismantle Atlantic Beach," said Pierce.
