Letter: Why all the silence from elected leaders?

The recent flap involving the superintendent of schools reminds us that people in high places can exhibit some lowly behavior when it comes to money, self-interest and how they use their power.

Of course, similar behavior brought our economy to its knees five years ago.

The incident teaches another lesson, too: The elected folks responsible for stopping such behavior often fail to see it or admit it, let alone do anything about it. Confronted with unpleasant facts, the majority exhibit blind allegiance or offer some rationalized defense of the misdeeds.

Why? Because the unwritten rule of local elected office is praise in public, criticize in private. Break that rule, and you're pretty much on your own.

All of which reminds me of the ongoing debate about whether to impose a special audit on the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, which receives grants of roughly $2 million a year from the Town of Hilton Head Island and Beaufort County.

One side argues for transparency and accountability. The other side says it has never been done before and, besides, there's no smoking gun. True enough -- just smoke and a mirror for our elected officials. Trust is what we do between inspections.

Rick Caporale

Hilton Head Island

Editor's note: The writer is a former Beaufort County Board of Education member who represents District 8 on Beaufort County Council.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Letter: Why all the silence from elected leaders?."