THE BENEFIT OF EXPERIENCE

Today, "Grits, Eggs, and Politics" has decided to throw caution to the wind, deviate from convention, and speak without reservation concerning a current political situation.  Hazarding the utter shock this will bring to the readers, we will forge ahead.


Some old sayings are as valid today as in the day they were coined:

"If you don't know anything and you stand there with your mouth shut, people may think you are a fool; if you don't know anything and you open your mouth, they will know it for a fact".

For many years, the Supervisor of Berkeley County enjoyed a rather unique position of power. He had managed to coalesce a voting block on County Council that assured the success of his dubious policies. He, in effect, had transformed the "Strong Council" form of government into a "Strong Supervisor" form by using the tried and true "what's in it for me?" method.

EXAMPLES:

1. A $2.4 MILLION, Hwy. 311 water line serving a grand total of SEVEN HOUSEHOLDS that ran to the front door of one of his Council support votes.
2. A new courthouse and senior citizen's center that devoured MILLIONS in tax dollars and the only justification was, "We deserved something as nice as other facilities in the county". Another vote secured.
3. See, all that talk about me not being bright is pure rubbish; I'm the Chairman of the Finance Committee. Vote # 3.
4. Where am I?  What am I doing here? Vote # 4.

For years, during the Supervisor's unilateral control, concerned taxpayers who kept apprised of the workings of their local government and regularly attended the County Council meetings, sat helplessly and watched vote after vote on crucial issues of taxing and spending.  Each of these votes concluded in the same manner. The four Conservatives on Council would vote in the interest of the taxpayer and the Supervisor's four would vote as instructed. Each time, the Supervisor would vote to break "THE TIE" and his will would prevail. This procedure became a standing joke in the Council chamber.  After each 4/4 vote was recorded, members of the gallery could be heard saying things like, "Gee, I wonder how the Supervisor will vote?" or "Golly, I wonder how this vote will come out?". For years, BC suffered under this abuse of power.

There are very few things in the world today on which one can absolutely depend.  One of these certainties is the M O of the present Berkeley County administration during an election cycle.  As exemplified by past behavior, when the power or control of the Supervisor is threatened in any way, certain results can be expected.

Two years ago, during the last election cycle, the voters of BC realized the only path back to the "Strong Council" form of government was to break the tie vote. It is always a forgone conclusion that Districts 7 and 8 have been so gerrymandered that successfully challenging those Council seats is an impossibility so opposition to the administration focused its attention on the other two seats.  The various members of Council come up for reelection every two years on a rotating basis. Last election cycle, the vulnerable seat that supported the Supervisor was the seat held by Mr. Call.  A viable opposition candidate was found and the effort began.

It is an established fact that the Supervisor is very talented when it comes to choosing individuals to "carry his water". In the case of the Council of that time, he selected people who desired something for themselves without regard to what was beneficial to the taxpayers.  When it came to selecting "outside" supporters, he chose those who were uninformed, not encumbered by the rules of social convention, and quite frankly, those sorely lacking in intellectual integrity. Immediately upon challenge, supporters of the Supervisor began a "scorched earth" campaign against not only the opposition candidate but the taxpayers and Council members who opposed the Supervisor's dubious policies.  The attacks waged by these people were personal, vicious, and relentless.

In the case of the last election, the efforts of the Supervisor failed miserable.  A fifth Conservative was elected to Council; one of the Supervisor's 4 votes, Mr. Call, was unseated; and the Supervisor lost his unilateral control of BC government and unencumbered access to its accompanying revenue. Since that time, armed with a 5/3 majority, the Conservatives on Council have succeeded in correcting several of the misdeeds perpetrated upon the taxpayers by the Supervisor. To name but a few:

9% of the 29% LOST money that the Supervisor stole from the taxpayers has been returned.  In this year's budget, more of these funds are to be returned.

A replacement program for dilapidated law enforcement vehicles and EMS trucks has been established.

Plans are in the works to reestablish the government satellite office closed by the Supervisor.

The Supervisor has been restrained from committing large sums of money without consent of Council.

The Supervisor has not reacted favorably to these changes. Let's just tell it like it is, he is livid and he wants his unilateral control back. He enjoyed his ability to take $10 MILLION from the fund balance of the BCW&SA when the law plainly states these funds are to be used exclusively for the operation of the Authority.  He reveled at his ability to ignore accepted procedure, use in-house appraisals, and have the County purchase an overpriced $1.6 MILLION SWAMP.  He took great joy in totally dismantling the intended concept of Cypress Gardens.  All the while,  tens of MILLIONS of dollars drifted in and out of Berkeley County government and, try as they may, not one of the Conservative Council members could gain access to the details of any of these transactions.

Three years ago, one of these Councilmen requested a print out of the County revenue and expenditures.  He's still waiting on that information. For that matter, all of Council and the taxpayers are still waiting for a hard copy of last year's budget.  As long as the only document available is the "nebulous" one that is on line, nothing is etched in stone. Not even the hard copy required by law to be available at the Clerk of Council's office exists.

So, here we are beginning another election cycle.  Two of the Conservative members of Council are up for reelection and the Supervisor is up to his old tricks, again.  For those of us who pay close attention to these things, there is an obvious difference between last cycle and this.  Almost to the last person, those who supported the Supervisor last time, have faded from the picture. Obviously, the majority of those folks must have turned out to be rather astute and, finally, saw the Supervisor for who and what he really is, because they no longer number among his minions.

But, fear not, the Supervisor has uncovered a whole new crop of unwitting accomplices. With few exceptions, these critics have proven themselves to be totally uninformed as to the actions (and the ramifications of these actions) of this Supervisor. They have proven themselves to be susceptible to undue influence.  And, they have proven themselves to be extremely politically naive and gullible. These folks have swallowed the propaganda hook, line, and sinker. We realize we are dating ourselves, but many of the statements of these critics puts us in the mind of the Mayor's race between Aunt Bea and Howard on Mayberry.

Aunt Bea, "If the people want a new bridge over Carleson Creek, they shall HAVE a new bridge over Carlson Creek".

Howard, " The existing bridge over Carlson Creek is sound and is adequate to accommodate the number of cars that use it on a daily basis. The solution to the traffic congestion in that area is to install a traffic signal at the approach to the bridge. This plan will save the taxpayers $500,000."

No one questioned Aunt Bea's sincerity, but her lack of knowledge, expertise, and qualifications was obvious. The same analysis applies to those who condemn the actions of the existing Conservative members of County Council.  We would suggest these critics ask themselves a few questions and make every effort to answer them honestly:

1. If I am so concerned with the condition of County government, where have I been for the 5 years prior to 2013 when all those 4/4 votes were taking place?
2. During the interim between elections, why have I NOT attended the Council meetings?
3. Where was I when the 4 Conservative members of Council were being denied a voice, one of the 4 being my representative?
4. Why have I not educated myself so I am able to intelligently debate the issues instead of expecting someone else to corroborate their contentions by doing all my research for me?
5. Why did I wait until the start of the election cycle to become so concerned and speak up?
6. Why am I so willing to accept at face value the rantings of so few when large numbers of people, intimately involved in the situation, are telling me a different story?
7. Exactly who approached me to "get involved" and challenge my Conservative Council member?

There is one universal answer to all these questions. Most of the critics are simply being unwittingly used by a tool of the Supervisor in his attempt to regain unilateral power. If these individuals are naive enough to buy the ration of bull they are being fed, they would be easy pickings for the Supervisor to add them to his coalition.  And, he knows it.  Now, isn't that sad?