Opinion ID: 1232799
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts/ procedural history

Text: The governor appointed appellant Albert Moore (Moore) to serve as Treasurer of Florence County on March 10, 1999, pursuant to authority granted in S.C.Code Ann. § 1-3-220(2) (Supp.2000). The position became vacant after the elected treasurer was unable to fulfill his term. Initially, the governor appointed Thomas Shearin to the office. When Shearin resigned, the governor appointed Moore. The governor commissioned Moore to serve until his successor is elected and qualified as provided by law. Moore thereafter filed for election to the position for the term commencing July 1, 2001, and ending June 30, 2005. Respondent Dean Fowler (Fowler) likewise filed to run for the position. He listed the term of office sought as beginning 2001 and ending 2005. In the general election held November 7, 2000, Fowler was elected treasurer. Shortly after his election, Fowler took the oath of office, posted the required bond, and received a commission from the governor. [1] Soon thereafter, Fowler sought to assume the office. Moore resisted Fowler's attempts, asserting that he was the lawfully appointed treasurer and would remain so until the expiration of the unexpired term to which he had been appointed, i.e., the term ending June 30, 2001. Fowler, on the other hand, claimed that he was the rightful treasurer since he had been elected and had qualified for the office. Two actions were subsequently initiated. Moore initiated suit on November 28, 2000, seeking to establish his entitlement to continue in the position of treasurer through June 30, 2001. Florence County brought suit against Moore and Fowler in November 2000, seeking a declaratory judgment as to who would serve as treasurer through June 30, 2001. The cases were consolidated. The trial court determined that Fowler should serve as the lawful treasurer during the period November 17, 2000, [2] through June 30, 2001, and ordered Moore to immediately surrender the office. Moore moved the trial court for supersedeas; the trial court denied the motion. Moore appealed, and petitioned this Court for supersedeas. He also moved to expedite his appeal. On December 14, 2000, we granted Moore's petition for supersedeas and his motion to expedite.