COLUMBIA - Gov. Mark Sanford's office has lost eight aides and several Cabinet members since he was sworn in nearly three years ago, but political observers are divided over the turnover's impact.

The former chief of staff for Republican Gov. Carroll Campbell said the changes cause temporary disorder but aren't uncommon.

"This isn't unusual for a governor to have turnover about this time," said Bob McAlister, a Columbia communications consultant. "Those top jobs are so pressure-packed and so hard they will probably use you up in the first three or four years."

Last week, Mr. Sanford's communications director, Chris Drummond, announced he was leaving later this month. The administration director for the governor, Michael Cavanaugh, was fired after he was arrested on a public drunkenness charge. And Mr. Sanford's former spokesman, Will Folks, who announced in July that he was leaving, pleaded guilty to criminal domestic violence.

The events were unrelated, but the number of people who have left surprised Gov. Jim Hodges' former chief of staff Kevin Geddings. Mr. Hodges, a Democrat, lost re-election to Mr. Sanford in 2002.

"Heck, he's just now entering the second half of his term," Mr. Geddings said. "Not having a stable senior staff around the governor ... affects how the whole place works. It's just disruptive."

Mr. Sanford's congressional team and gubernatorial staff have described him as a tough, demanding boss who requires unquestionable loyalty.

"We continue to have a number of very talented folks working to move the governor's agenda forward," spokesman Joel Sawyer said. "You certainly know what's expected of you."

A handful of Mr. Sanford's congressional staff work in the governor's office, including senior policy adviser Scott English, Mr. Sawyer said. And when the governor hired some of his staff, he knew it would be for the short term.

"Obviously when you do that you end up with folks who are making sacrifices to do the job," he added.

At least eight senior aides and about one-third of Mr. Sanford's 13-member Cabinet have left.