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NewslettersFordham wants city council to put Mayor Rauch in the hot seat
Thu, 2008-07-17 21:44 — Anonymous
Beaufort City Councilman Gary Fordham has asked Mayor Bill Rauch to call a special council meeting to address two allegations of impropriety against the mayor, but it is unclear if Fordham has enough support to force a meeting. Read the story here.
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"Councilwoman Donnie Beer said she would not support calling a special meeting". What's her freakin' problem?
ole plastic face did a little trading with the Mayors company.
What's wrong now ? I thought an announcement was made already that the Mayor would not run for re-election ? That's not enough for some people, I guess. He has decided to leave out of the front door he came in and not the back. Just maybe, he deserves that too. I know that he has many friends and supporters who want him around. I believe overall, he and the current council has done quite a good job for the city of Beaufort, and they should all (including the Mayor) be commended for it. Beaufort is changing for the good. I only wish that some of the personal squabbles among local politicians will be resolved. I guess too many people want to be Mayor at the same time ! Well, at least local politicians have not gone as far as some corrupt ones up north. In one city, (unnamed) a politician hated a rival(who also was a leading Pastor) so much, until he hired a teenage call girl to entrap him in a midnight meeting. The whole encounter was secretly recorded from the next room at the hotel, and was then sent to the local news media. Now, that's dirty politics at its worse. Thank GOD, Beaufort politics is no where near in comparison to that shameful city. So, for those critics who think politics in Beaufort are totally corrupt, I say, "You haven't seen nothing yet"! GOD BLESS AMERICA !
...you cited, most likely worse. Corruption has become so commonplace that Beaufort doesn't know how to function any other way.
The added twist here is that the corruption extends to the State level and it's State agencies, it's really a sight to behold.
If Beaufort has any hope of turning this cesspool around, they need to start getting these stink pods out of here. A good start would be the mayors office, however, he is only one of many players that need to be replaced.
There is a real opportunity for a real leader to emerge, however, I am concerned that "anyone dumb enough to take the job is probably not smart enough to turn it around."
Just shows Beer is corrupt too.
time to flush a lot of turds down the drain in Beaufort
too much and it'll back up in the mighty Mayors waterfront park. More repairs needed.
I find it inconceivable that any member of any governing body could stand by and not ask for a resignation in this sort of situation. I applaud the efforts of Fordham and O'Kelly! Hopefully Sutton will come around. How could you possibly sit on that council and not condemn actions that involve such serious financial improprieties? These people govern every aspect of the financial workings of the City of Beaufort, and one of them has proven that he has no integrity in such matters. The rest of the council should be doing something about it, and so far at least two of them are trying. With Beer's stand on this, how can Beaufort residents responsibly elect her to replace the Mayor?
Boy, aren't we really setting ourselves up in the media just fine and dandy these days..!! It's bad enough that our State is advertised as Gay, but why should we have a Shady Mayor "trying" to run our town..What an impression this is making with our young people!! And why doesn't the rest of the Council use their backbones to stand up to him? It looks like we have a very weak system in the City of Beaufort these days. And then for him to have the Governor as his brother in law-hiding behind that title too..That's what we get by letting those New Yorkers come down here and take over everything..You always reap what you sow..
Amazing to read what is in this blog.
COuncil has no jurisdiction - so what now? A witch hunt? A public lynching? Beer is right as this has no place on the public dime.
Meanwhile, the Gazette continues to run the entire raft of stuff on Rauch - still bringing up the Keyserling ethics issue - as if Billy Keyserling is some saint!!!
It pays to be favored by the Gazette - for while Rauch is trashed, Keyserling gets a free pass. Never do we read that he was the real estate agent for the McLeod family while he was a sitting council member and was actively negotiating the annexation while in office. No conflict there??!! Keyserling left office and bought some of the Plantation property to develop and no one says anything - and gets commissions on the deal!!!
While his liberal Mom is trashing everyone about environmental issues, she is on Billy's applications for dock permits at one of his developments and then moves into one of his condos on Ribaut Island - the most densely populated piece of land in Beaufort (another pass when developed). Never a word from the Gazette - another free pass.
And then of course, anytime Mrs Keyserling wants to write a lengthy liberal pice - she gets space. No bias here - yeah right!!
In the end - Rauch will be gone, thank God Keyserling is NOT going to run TCL, and maybe Beaufort can actually move beyond this soap opera of the past 20 years. The only question left is if the people - and especially the Gazette - can.
COuncil has no jurisdiction - so what now? A witch hunt? A public lynching? Beer is right as this has no place on the public dime.
I disagree
The council represents the citizens of Beaufort. The Mayor is an official of Beaufort. If an official has committed a crime while in office, it is up to those that represent the citizens...to pursue the matter in order to retain the trust of the people.
Any official that sweeps this under the rug is unfit to hold the position in which they are entrusted.
The fact is that the Mayor broke the law (although he does not admit it) to personally gain financially with insider information. It is irrelevant that the stock has dropped below the original purchase price......what matters is that he used confidential information in the attempt to gain personally. This is a clear LACK OF ETHICS....and a betrayal of the trust citizens of Beaufort placed in the mayor. Now he has betrayed the trust and the office....and must leave.
It is the legal duty of the council to pursue this matter.
Any that do not....need to find a job more suited to their lack of ethics as well.
First of all, Keyserling was not on Council through the annexation. Secondly, Ribaut Island is 8 acres and there are 25 units there....Most densely populated-are you crazy??????And if you had all the facts, you would know that Keyserling's firm marketed the property and was NOT the developer!
First of all, Keyserling was not on Council through the annexation. Secondly, Ribaut Island is 8 acres and there are 25 units there....Most densely populated-are you crazy??????And if you had all the facts, you would know that Keyserling's firm marketed the property and was NOT the developer!
I thought the same thing when I read that post also, sarah1. Most dense?? Hardly. Also, and correct me if I am mistaken, Mrs. Keyserling PURCHASED her Penthouse, she did not just "move in" as the poster suggested.
That's correct-she purchased her unit as did Keyserling and a business partner.
Thank you , thank you, "savethelowcountry" for your brotherly and admirable comments. I must have had you docked wrong. Your comments is what this whole charade is all about. FAIRNESS ! Now if local print media is one-sided, they are the real perpertrators of the true and most unbelievable crime, for they are nurturing the cesspool of combative politics with favortism. I personally don't have a favored entity in this local dogfight, but, what I do have is a desire to see the fight resolved fairly. Can that be accomplished in a time of pure greed,jealousy,and the pursuit of veangeance? I don't know, but,it is surely worth an honest try for the sake of the citizens of the city of Beaufort. GOD BLESS AMERICA !
Ms. "There's nothing we can do" wants to be the Mayor! Can you believe this? I think a meeting is not only warranted, but it should be immediate. I hope Mr. Sutton signs on quickly and asks for a meeting. Please don't let Mrs. Beer be the next mayor of our fair city. Her actions in this issue alone, let alone annexation or the renovations of the Waterfront Park (remember, folks can just bring a towel to sit on hot metal benches?) show just how badly Beaufort does not need her non-leadership possition.
Mr. Rauch, it's time to go. At least the Mayor of Union, SC, had the good sense to resign when he got into trouble.
can't possibly do anything of benefit to the city with this cloud looming over his head. If he had the slightest shred of concern for the citizens of the city he would voluntarily resign immediately. It's just the right thing to do.
Oh come on folks. Did you really need this in order to understand Beer's relationship to the Mayor? Hasn't anyone ever paid any attention to the way that she has voted or even when she has "abstained?"
This lack of public attention shouldn't be surprising. That is why I stand by my prediction that she will become the next Mayor of Beaufort.....more of the same....and the developers and main "players" on the Beaufort scene are sure to thank all of you. Now about that big tax break for that developer..........
How impious is the title of sacred Majesty applied to a worm, who in the midst of his splendor is crumbling into dust!
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
First of all, I haven't heard of Mr. Keyserling being brought up on any charges or allegations of any unethical or illegal actions, if he had been it would be one thing. It sound like s the l has a personal grudge there. Grow up a little. The mayor chose to be in the public's eye when he ran for mayor. If he had an ounce of integrity he would atleast make a statement of his actions. I believe he owes an honest explanation to his constituents, maybe that is just my silly thinking, that an elected official owes something to the people he/she represents. This man obviously has some inner troubles to be acting the way he is, I hope he solves them and can find some peace within himself, but I believe he should exhibit integrity and hold himself accountable for his actions and move on.
Three City Council members and the Mayor have spoken on the special council meeting. The pressure is now on Mike Sutton. On this issue, he MUST take a position. The position he takes will make or break his future political career. The worst thing he can do is say nothing.
So Mr. Sutton, now is the time to speak out. Do you favor a crook running our city (like Mrs. Beer) or are you for an honest, accountable government?
Spoken like a true "ineffective" politician.
The Gov. & The Mayor are related.
I wouldn't vote for D. Beer for dogcatcher.
That would be like supporting T. O'Brien for office.
No, No, No and No.
I'd be interested to find out how much property is listed in the names of Rauch's friends & family...
Why would anyone consent to giving up $44,000.00 if they’d done nothing wrong?
I guess it’s cheaper that not being able to prove your innocence.