Letter: Public fight on Chamber does more harm than good

What started out a few years ago as a competitive disagreement between an individual businessman and the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce has escalated into a nasty, public brouhaha that is becoming a community embarrassment.

Sadly, this conflict has progressed from a sideshow into a main event involving not only the two chamber but also the mayors and Town Councils of Hilton Head and Bluffton. As a result, a new organization named BeaufortWatchdog.org, has been running a series of full-page newspaper ads, claiming to represent “professionals, businessmen, entrepreneurs and leaders.”

Watchdog says it has been “targeted by corrupt county and municipal officials, because we challenge policies that are illegal or unethical, or disrupt their corrupt activities.” It says the officials “threaten our livelihood.”

Apparently, this organization has a large warchest, offering $10,000 rewards to whistleblowers in an attempt to “combat the systemic corruption in Beaufort County.” It is also soliciting donations from our community.

First, since this organization’s website offers no transparency or disclosure of its principals and members’ names, one should question donating to what could be a special-interest group that does not reflect your expectations.

Second, this organization’s accusatory claims, if correct, should be processed through our legal system, not bantered in the newspaper.

Third, continuing to publicize these accusatory statements casts a negative perception of our wonderful community.

Fourth, the newspaper’s staff would do our community a great service by conducting an in-depth investigative report on this controversial subject.

This story was originally published March 15, 2016 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Letter: Public fight on Chamber does more harm than good."