Mr. Bartelme:
I’ve read the article that was published Friday, and had a couple points I wanted to expand on
now that I more fully understand your focus.
Use of Clemmons Law Firm Credit Card Account: The use of an officeholder / campaign
account credit card is not authorized under South Carolina Ethics law or rulings of the
Committee. Only in recent years has the use of a debit card tied to such account been authorized.
Until such time the only method of payment was by check. It has been, and remains, common
practice to use a credit card for purchases when ordering items by phone, making travel
reservations, checking out of hotels, paying for a cab, and other expenses where paying by check
is impractical or impossible or simply because one is not travelling with the officeholder
operating account checkbook. etc., and to then reimburse those costs from the responsible
officeholder operating account. For those officeholders / candidates, like myself, who now have
a debit card tied to such account the cumbersome nature of paying by credit card and then
reimbursing that expense has been greatly simplified. Still, though, there are times when
payment by debit card is not accepted or, where there are multiple officeholder accounts, there
are insufficient funds in the account tied to the debit card to cover payment for the intended
officeholder expense. As to the purchase of the photography equipment about which you inquire,
I did a rather extensive search for the best pricing on the equipment and found it to be with the
eventual vendor. I specifically recall attempting to use the officeholder account debit card to pay
(it was either on line or by phone, I don't specifically remember which) and being perturbed that
I could not use it. My recollection of the specifics of why the vendor wouldn't accept payment
with the officeholder account debit card is unclear.
Video Recording Equipment: All of the camera equipment, including the two "go pro"
cameras, were purchased for use in communicating matters of interest with my constituents and
for campaign purposes. Specifically, the "go pro" cameras were purchased as user friendly
devices that are designed to be placed and left to record long term, and later editied as desired. A
significant application was their use in Committee and Subcommittee Meetings, with one camera
giving a view of the committee and the other focused on myself to preserve questions, answers
and comments. It was around the time of this purchase that I hired a former news reporter,
Brooke Witson, from Myrtle Beach news station, WMBF, as my part time legislative aide in my
Columbia office. While I do the actual updates, she was responsible in coordinating my social
media accounts that I use to keep my constituents informed as to my activities in and out of the
legislature. She had access to all the videography equipment and was the exclusive person to use
it during her period of service. While I have never taken the time to learn to use the studio
camera or the "Go Pros", Brooke was the expert. Brooke left my office prior to the
commencement of the 2015 session to have a baby. While I have been advertising with the USC
School of Communication during the 2015 session, her position still remains vacant and the
cameras remain stored in my Columbia office.
Bass Pro Shop Receipt: The receipt I gave you is a replacement receipt provided to me by Bass
Pro Shop due to loss of the original receipt. As I recall, the two backup batteries purchased at
Bass Pro were for the "Go Pro" cameras. I seem to remember being unable to locate batteries at
Best Buy at the time, but being advised that Bass Pro carried them.

 I hope this helps clarify some of the points you were interested in. I trust you'll communicate my
cooperation in working with you on this.
Regards,
Alan Clemmons

Sent via iPhone by:
Rep. Alan Clemmons
SC House of Representatives
1800 North Oak St. Suite A
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577