Letters to the Editor

  • Graham would be wise to listen to his critics
    U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has been censured by yet a third South Carolina county Republican Party. His response was that it was the work of fringe elements in the party. Are we to understand that those who disagree with him are part of a fringe element not rising to the same level of knowledge, experience and wisdom as Graham?
  • Backpacks for Haiti a grass-roots initiative
    In your Jan. 30 story "Local churches, schools send hope to Haiti," you mentioned our Project Haiti Children's Backpacks under the Vanlandingham Rotary Club heading. We want to clarify that the project is not affiliated with any organization, but is a grass-roots movement, and there is much more to the story.
  • People need more answers on Sembler
    I have understood that the proposed Sembler Co. project has been in the works for many years and understand the concept of creating jobs by "meeting retail consumer demand." If the developer is saying, "I can't build without special tax incentives that other retailers don't have," I believe he really is saying: "I am not sure the demand is there, but, if you give me money I will try it."
  • Basketball 'one-on-one' would be improvement
    Recently, the newly elected Republican senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, was quoted as saying he would like to settle his differences with President Barack Obama with a little "one-on-one" on the basketball court.
  • Why build fire station if homes aren't there?
    I drive by the Tradition Hilton Head project about once a week. I keep searching for all the homes on both sides of U.S. 278 that might be served by a fire station -- new or otherwise. Certainly, the developer hoped to build numerous homes when the agreement with Hardeeville initially was signed. However, times are difficult, and there are some 30 houses built on all those acres.
  • Historian Zinn taught us to see all people
    We pay tribute to the late historian, teacher, filmmaker, writer and activist Howard Zinn, who died Jan. 27. Zinn taught young people to rethink how we look at and understand the history of our country through his book, "A People's History of the U.S.," and a TV movie version of his companion book, "Voices of A People's History." Both portrayed the history of slavery, poverty and civil rights.
  • Keep property tax relief; close sales tax loopholes
    Our newspaper publishes frequent editorials on the Property Reform Act of 2006 (Act 388). It suggests that to reform taxes in South Carolina, Act 388 must be revisited. Homeowners should be reminded of two points.
  • Congress must act on health care reform
    The average cost of a family health care plan in the U.S. is $13,375, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust.
  • State of the Union shows Obama in state of denial
    On Jan. 27, people across the nation tuned in to watch the State of the Union address to see whether President Barack Obama heard the message from Massachusetts voters. Like me, many were disappointed. It was more of the same empty promises, angry rhetoric, partisan jibes and blame for George W. Bush.
  • Letters, debate benefit from objective rhetoric
    There's a group I refer to as "The Birch Bunch," a dozen or so people who write regularly attacking Democrats and moderate Republicans. Under former President George W. Bush, their letters were directed at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and filled with Obama warnings. Since Obama's inauguration, they've been relentless. They correctly warn of out-of-control spending, but I don't recall letters from them attacking Bush for never balancing a budget and adding $5 trillion to the national debt.
  • Island mall offers lesson on moving quickly to help
    Hilton Head Island's Town Council has stated that we need to refurbish and update some of the island businesses and facilities to keep them vital and appealing for both local and tourist use. This is a far-sighted objective and should be pursued.
  • Whatever he calls it, Bauer's claim is trash
    U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas, once admitted, "You don't have to pass an IQ test to be in the Senate." Andre Bauer continues to betray this same low standard for the office of South Carolina lieutenant governor.
  • Seventh-graders seek memories from natives
    The "Lowcountry Living" students at Beaufort Middle School would like the help of residents who were born and raised in Beaufort. In an effort to contribute to the Beaufort Three-Century Project, they would like to compile favorite memories of Beaufort, ranging from the 1920s to the present.


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Letters to the Editor

Letter guidelines

Letters to the editor are welcome. Letters must be 250 words or less and signed with your first and last names. Include your street address and daytime telephone number so we can verify the letter before publication. You are limited to one letter per 30 days. Letters may be edited for length, style, grammar, taste and libel. All letters submitted become the property of The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette and may be republished in any format. The Packet and the Gazette do not publish endorsement letters on the editorial page. Thank you letters are published in the Monday Lowcountry Life section.

How to reach us

Mail: P.O. Box 5727, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938
Fax: 843-706-3070
Hand-delivered: 10 Buck Island Road, Bluffton or 1556 Salem Road, Beaufort
E-mail: letters@islandpacket.com or letters@beaufortgazette.com

Your Elected Officials

U.S. Congress
State Government
  • Gov. Mark Sanford (R)
    Governor’s Office, State House, P.O. Box 12267, Columbia, S.C. 29211
    Office: (803) 734-2100 Fax: (803) 734-5167
  • Senator Tom Davis(R-District 46)
    P.O. Drawer 1107, Beaufort, 29901-1107
    (843) 252-8583
    602 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29201
    Bus. (803) 212-6008
  • Rep. Curtis Brantley (D-District 122)
    194 Bees Creek Rd., Ridgeland, 29936
    (843) 726-5998
    314D Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29201
    (803) 734-2965
  • Rep. Richard Chalk (R-District 123)
    326C Blatt Building, Columbia, S.C. 29211-1867
    Office: (803) 734-3067; Home: (843) 842-5985
    15 Goldfinch Lane, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928
  • Rep. Shannon S. Erickson (R-District 124)
    (843) 986-1090
    306A Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29201
    (803) 734-3261
  • Rep. Bill Herbkersman (R-District 118)
    P.O. Box 11867, Columbia, S.C. 29211
    Office: (803) 734-3063; Home: (843) 757-5424
    151 Gascoigne Bluff, Bluffton, S.C. 29910
  • Rep. Kenneth F. Hodges (D-District 121)
    PO Drawer 355, Green Pond, 29446
    (843) 525-9006 Home (843) 844-8756
    434B Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29201
    (803) 734-3062
Beaufort County
  • Rick Caporale (R-District 1)
    17 Salt Wind Way, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29926
    Office: 680-9999; fax: 681-6700
  • Steven Baer (R-District 2)
    10 Heather Lane, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29926
    Office: 689-3570; fax: 689-3569
  • Stu Rodman (R-District 3)
    27 Baynard Park, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928
    Office: 363-470; fax: 363-6472
  • Weston J. Newton chairman (R-District 4)
    P.O. Drawer 7049, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29938
    Office: 842-6111; fax: 706-9981
  • William McBride (D-District 5)
    P.O. Box 77, St. Helena Island, SC 29920
    Fax:(843)838-8303
    Home:(843)838-2264
  • Gerald Dawson (D-District 6)
    64-A Horace Dawsone Drive, Seabrook, SC 29940
    Fax:(843)846-4738
    Office:(843)846-4830
  • Paul Sommerville vice chairman (R-District 7)
    1509 Pigeon Point Road, Beaufort, SC 29902
    Fax:(843)379-7115
    Office:(843)379-7114
  • Herbert N. Glaze (D-District 8)
    P.O. Box 4053, Burton, SC 29903
    Fax:(843)846-3601
    Home:(843)846-2845
  • Brian Flewelling (R- District 9)
    25 Petigru Drive, Beaufort, SC 29902
    Fax:(843)379-9806
    Office:(843)379-9805
  • Jerry Stewart (R-District 10)
    11 Teaberry Lane, Bluffton, S.C. 29909
    Office: 705-4753; fax: 705-4723
  • Laura Von Harten (D-District 11)
    166 Fuller Parkway, Beaufort, SC 29902
    Fax:(843)379-1380
    Office:(843)379-1367
Beaufort County School District
  • District Office: 1300 King St., P.O. Drawer 309, Beaufort, SC 29902
    Office: 322-2300; fax: 322-2371
    Hilton Head Island office, 689-4635; fax: 689-4617
  • Beaufort County Board of Education members:
    • Fred S. Washington chairman (District 11)
      PO 325, 804 West Street, Beaufort, SC 29901
      (C) 843-524-8404
    • Bob Arundell vice chairman (District 2)
      198 Woodlake Villas, Hilton Head, S.C. 29926
      Home: 681-8502; work: 7855-8040; fax: 785-3056;
    • Joan Deery (District 1)
      5 old Fort Drive, Hilton Head, S.C. 29926
      Home: 681-8968
    • Wayne Carbiener (District 3)
      Home: 843-363-2113
    • Laura Bush (District 4)
      P.O. Box 172, Bluffton, S.C. 29910
      Home: 757-2638; fax: 757-2638
    • Michael F. Rivers, Sr. (District 5)
      734 Seaside Road, St. Helena, SC 29920
      (H) 843-838-2277
      FAX 843-838-1192
    • Earl Campbell (District 6)
      93 Bruce Smalls, Grays Hill, P.O. Box 768, Lobeco, SC 29931
      (H) 843-846-4531
      (C) 843-476-7512
      FAX 843-846-1373
    • Jim Bequette (District 7)
      4 Broomfield Lane 2532, Beaufort, SC 29907
      (H/C) 843-263-8327
    • Herbert Burnes (District 8)
      95 Pine Grove Road, Beaufort, SC 29906
      (H) 843-846-445
      (C) 843-263-2776
    • Ronald Speaks (District 9)
      3121 Palomino Dr., Burton, SC 29906
      (H) 843-525-1163
      (W) 843-525-8277
      FAX 843-525-1163
    • George Wilson (District 10)
      20 Osprey Circle, Callawassie Island, S.C. 29909
      Home: 987-1234; cell: 812-9870
City of Beaufort
Town of Hilton Head Island
  • Town Hall: One Town Center Court, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 341-4600
  • Town Council
    • Mayor Thomas D. Peeples
      4 Hartford Place, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928-3922
      Home: 686-4138; office: 681-2600; fax: 689-3229
    • Bill Ferguson (Ward 1)
      634 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 686-2863
    • William Harkins (Ward 2)
      3 Old Fort Lane Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
      263-3261 - cell
    • Drew A. Laughlin (Ward 3)
      5 McIntosh Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 689-5723; work 689-5700; fax 689-9300
    • John Safay (Ward 4)
      19 Starboard Tack, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 785-4489; work: 785-4696; fax: 785-4696
    • George Williams (Ward 5)
      8 Braddock Cove, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 363-6601; fax: 363-6604
    • Ken S. Heitzke (Ward 6)
      3 Audubon Place, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 681-8182; fax: 681-9864
Town of Bluffton