“Henry McMaster has demonstrated he can’t keep his own properties in order, what makes us believe he can keep South Carolina in order?” said the DNC’s Southern Regional Press Secretary Enrique Gutierrez. “McMaster’s terrible history as a landlord is indicative of his performance as governor, as he neglects the state’s public education system like one of his rental properties. South Carolinians deserve better, and can do better if they vote for James Smith for governor on November 6.”

The Post and Courier: At one of Gov. McMaster’s SC rental properties, mold, roaches and a stabbing

COLUMBIA — Gov. Henry McMaster has fought a reputation as a negligent landlord in downtown Columbia for years.

Tenants of rental properties co-owned by the governor and his wife, Peggy, have complained in news reports about water pouring from light fixtures, holes in ceilings, bats and mice.

And as the city of Columbia cracks down on its problem landlords, the McMasters have racked up dozens of code violations in the past three years for a range of issues at their 20 rental properties. Henry McMaster is seeking his first full term as governor next month.

[…]

Still, since 2015, McMaster properties have received 117 code violations from Columbia Police.

About two-thirds of the violations were for trash roll carts left on the street, records show. But the citations also include 18 violations to a property’s “structure” and “premise,” though include no details.

Records documenting those violations weren’t immediately available and Columbia Police declined to describe them.

(MORE)