Hilton Head leader made a political endorsement. It looked like an official town email
A Hilton Head Island Town Council member is in hot water after he sent an endorsement email from his personal email but used an official town header and footer, making it appear more official.
Tom Lennox, who represents Sea Pines and the south end of the island, sent the email Monday evening where he shared a message of endorsement of Phil Hartman, who was running for the Republican nomination for House of Representatives District 123.
He did not write the message himself. He pasted a letter originally written to Palmetto Hall residents from islanders Terry Ennis and Jim Webb. The top of Lennox’s email read, “A message from two Island leaders I know well and respect!”
Lennox’s email featured the official header and footer used on the Town of Hilton Head Island website, as well as links to official town information.
Town Manager Steve Riley, reached Wednesday morning, said he was not aware that Lennox was using the official masthead.
“It was a surprise to me,” Riley said. “It looks like it came from one of our email alerts.”
Town council members are free to endorse candidates in races, but many have criticized Lennox’s use of official elements.
Riley said that although elected officials have a right to support and endorse candidates, “there is a prohibition against using the resources of the town or the government,” which Lennox appeared to do.
Riley said he discussed the matter with Lennox, who said although he used the town email template, he used a personal email list that he maintains outside his work with the government.
Lennox told The Island Packet Wednesday evening he’s used the town’s template in the past without issue. He sent out a follow-up email Tuesday morning that explained his message was not a town endorsement.
“I heard from a couple people who felt like that (was a town endorsement), but I didn’t view it that way,” he said. “I can see if people thought that.”
Hartman lost to incumbent Jeff Bradley on Tuesday.
The email was publicized and criticized by Bradley’s campaign team.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 10:06 AM.
