Letter: Election board chair has stellar record

An interesting phenomenon has occurred. A private citizen forwarded two emails to “friends” that touched on political issues. Now that private citizen is being challenged and criticized in your paper. Ron Clifford, who chairs the Beaufort County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, is that private citizen.

Clifford is paid $1,500 for an extremely responsible job. As his wife, I know that for this “salary” he manages every election in Beaufort Country; finds all polling places; finds, trains all poll workers; attends monthly meetings; works with office staff; visits every polling location several times during each Election Day; attends annual four-day election commission meetings; meets with the board two days after every election to certify the vote; attends meetings with elected officials; holds three to five training meetings before every election; spends hours on the phone trying to enlist workers; and speaks to groups to convince people to vote and work at the polls. It takes 500 to 650 poll workers to run an election in 96 precincts. Clifford has served in this position for 11 years.

Your paper published an offensive piece about him. Two citizens have written offensive letters calling for Clifford to resign. So sad.

Clifford has devoted many years as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Kairos Prison Ministry, Hilton Head Christian Academy and his church.

Should he have forwarded the emails? Probably not. Should he resign? No. Ron Clifford has more personal integrity than anyone I’ve ever known, plus a huge servant’s heart. Ask anyone.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Letter: Election board chair has stellar record."