By Robert Behre

The race for the state House District 115 seat is getting personal, with Democratic challenger Eugene Platt saying it’s one thing if his opponent is going through a difficult divorce but quite another if he lied about the circumstances behind it.

State Rep. Wallace Scarborough, who is seeking a fourth term, said Platt is slinging mud because he is afraid to talk about the real issues, such as completing the Mark Clark Expressway, reforming the tax structure or providing more truth in sentencing.

Until recently, Platt had been largely silent about Scarborough’s ongoing divorce proceedings, although Platt’s Web site has links to detailed news stories about the divorce, including evidence that

Scarborough had an extramarital affair with his colleague, Rep. Catherine Ceips, R-Beaufort.

After The State newspaper recently reported that both Scarborough and Ceips denied they are or were having an affair, Platt broke his silence and said Tuesday that Scarborough should admit he lied about the affair or “offer the public credible evidence showing those allegations are untrue.”

“Scarborough himself has made his veracity a central issue,” Platt said. “If we cannot believe him on one thing, how can voters feel he’s telling them the truth on the issues, whether it’s taxation or public education?”

Platt likened Scarborough to former President Clinton, whose political problems stemming from his affair with intern Monica Lewinsky were compounded by his public denial of that affair, a denial that ultimately led to an impeachment proceeding that Clinton survived.

“I’m a card-carrying Democrat and was an admirer of President Clinton, but he went way down in my esteem once he lied about that,” Platt said.

Scarborough declined to talk about his personal life Tuesday, beyond acknowledging that he is going through a divorce. Asked about his denial of the affair with Ceips, Scarborough said the earlier newspaper story did not quote him on that subject.

“It’s none of your business. My case is in litigation, and I can’t go talking about something that’s in the middle of a court case,” he said. Ceips, who is running for re-election unopposed, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Scarborough said James Islanders deserve a campaign where the candidates talk about the issues, “but Mr. Platt is indeed wanting to throw mud and run a smear campaign. I think Mr. Platt is afraid of coming out on the issues.”

He said he would like voters to judge him on his record, including his work to get James Island’s roads fixed, to get money for the Morris Island lighthouse restoration and to get limits on bridges to undeveloped marsh islands. “Am I having a lot of problems? Yeah. Am I still an effective leader? Yeah,” he said.

Scarborough noted Platt has gone through two divorces, which Platt acknowledged but said extramarital affairs didn’t play a role.

“I haven’t had one voter tell me other than they’re sorry I’m going through a divorce,” Scarborough added. “Most people are very understanding and understanding that that’s my private life and understand that has nothing to do with my service in the House.”

Reprinted from The Post and Courier.