Curtis Bostic: County Council Absences Due to Sick Wife

South Carolina First Congressional GOP candidate Curtis Bostic defended his attendance record while on Charleston County Council when it was questioned by rival Mark Sanford during a debate Thursday.

Patch reviewed the minutes from 11 of the meetings during Bostic's time on council. Those minutes are attached to this article. On nine occasions he was either out of state, out of the country or out of town. On two occasions his absence was unexplained.   

The former Charleston County councilman went toe-to-toe with Sanford Thursday night during the S.C. GOP debate. They will let Republican voters decide the nominee this Tuesday. The winner will face Democratic nominee Elizabeth Colbert Busch in a special election May 7.

During the debate, Sanford questioned Bostic's attendance record while serving on County Council. Bostic didn't let the jab go unanswered, replying that he had missed so much time on council to take care of his wife, who was stricken — twice — by cancer.

Social media was quick to pick up on the barb and Bostic's response. 

Bostic's son Daniel Bostic (@debostic) wrote this tweet: "Not gonna lie - I'm still infuriated over Sanford attacking my dad for missing council when my mom was dying."

But not everyone on Twitter was defending Bostic after the exchange. Bill Schmalfeldt (@LiberalGrouch) wrote: "How mawkish, @Bostic4Congress. Using your dead wife as a weapon in a political debate. Shame on you, sir." 

Patch obtained attendance records for Bostic while he was council. His attendance ranges from 67 percent in 2005 to 93 percent in 2001. Most years on council it ranged around 80 percent. Bostic is also a full-time lawyer. Click here to read his profile on Patch. 

Bostic served on council from 2001 until 2009. Charleston County Council meets for regular meeting twice a month. 

The Democrat, who unseated Bostic from County Council in 2008, Vic Rawl said his campaign never used Bostic's attendance record against him but he was aware of the attendance issues. 

"It wasn't any good from what I understand," Rawl told Patch. Rawl has endorsed Democratic nominee for the congressional seat Elizabeth Colbert Busch.