Ken Ard has turned his job as lieutenant governor from one of virtual irrelevancy to one shrouded in controversy and scrutiny after racking up thousands of dollars in ethics violations since being sworn in six months ago. Ard went on a spending spree with his campaign dollars last November after beating Democratic nominee Ashley Cooper to become lieutenant governor. Some of his more interesting expenditures include $3,000 for “computer equipment” at a Best Buy, which were more accurately found to be a PlayStation 3, a flat-screen television and iPads.