Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2009

Pierce flap embarrasses outside of Atlantic Beach

The black mayor of Atlantic Beach, Retha Pierce, suggests that white S.C. Rep. Tracy Edge was trying to become her slave master by questioning her behavior.

She meant to demean Edge. But all she did was demean herself and embarrass a town that can't afford the embarrassment of a mayor who finds ways to get arrested every few months. And every time Pierce gets in trouble, it is the work of "shadow people" trying to oust her from office.

Her fellow black council members also called her behavior into question and asked Gov. Mark Sanford to remove her from office. I wonder if Pierce believes they, too, are trying to enslave her because they have clearly said they are embarrassed by her behavior. They believe it puts the town in a bad light and can have a negative effect on attempts to revitalize the town as a tourist hub. They're right.

This past weekend, I went to Berkeley County near where I was born to participate in a discussion about my book. The participants didn't realize I lived near Atlantic Beach. With no prompting from me, they began to talk about "that drunk mayor" they see in the news all the time.

They, too, were embarrassed. They feared some people would use Pierce as an example, assume most blacks behave that way and use it as an excuse to rely upon stereotypes. That embarrassed me, even while knowing Pierce wasn't the only local elected official making headlines.

Horry County Chairwoman Liz Gilland's misadventures began a few months ago when she declared she'd never vote to hire a woman as county administrator because it would be too tough for a woman to handle the good old boys network - the same network Gilland has successfully navigated for years. She wisely backed off that statement.

Since then, she's had questionable usage of a county vehicle. She's had four tickets and a suspended license. And she's incurred a $300,000 fine from the State Ethics Commission for not filing campaign finance reports for three years.

"I'm just sorry I reflected so poorly on this county that I love," she said. "To have worked so hard for so many years and then screw up so badly in one week. Lousy way to leave an impression."

She's embarrassed by the headlines she's generated.

Everybody seems embarrassed.

Except Pierce.