Transparency Concerns Emerge Over Beaufort County Attorney’s Resignation

Transparency Concerns Emerge Over Beaufort County Attorney’s Resignation

Beaufort County has found itself in the spotlight recently as questions surrounding the transparency and accountability of its operations have surfaced. This is largely due to the handling of documents related to the resignation of former County Attorney Brittany Ward. The situation has sparked discussions about how public records are managed, especially given the delicate nature of the allegations involved.

A Request for Clarity

Back in late October, an official request was filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by The Island Packet. The request sought “all records and communications related to Brittany Ward’s resignation, including resignation letters…” These requests are crucial for ensuring that the public can hold their officials accountable and stay informed about the workings of their local government.

What happened next raised eyebrows. On November 20, the county’s records department released some documents in response to this request. Among them was an email bearing the subject “Brittany Ward Resignation.” However, it’s worth noting that this email came just a day after an independent legal review regarding Ward’s involvement in a contentious land sale between the county and her parents was also made public. It quickly became clear that something didn’t add up.

Confusion Over Dates

The Island Packet pointed out discrepancies between the timelines of Ward’s resignation announcement to her colleagues and the county’s legal review findings. This raised further concerns about whether her resignation came before or after a citizen voiced concerns over the legitimacy and ethics surrounding the land sale. While Ward’s announcement dated October 22 came after these citizen complaints, the county failed to initially produce the actual resignation letter which was dated October 1.

The Legal Review

Adding to the complexity, the county made the legal review available on November 19. Conducted by legal expert Ashley Story from White & Story, LLC, the review determined that Ward adhered to the county’s ethics policy. However, it also highlighted that her family ties to the property owners were not disclosed to the full council—a significant issue that raises eyebrows about full transparency and potential conflicts of interest.

Interestingly, this review took around nine hours to complete, including almost three hours’ worth of interviews, and cost the county over $2,000. Despite these clear efforts to clear the air, the review did not pinpoint an exact date for Ward’s resignation other than confirming it preceded the emails from concerned citizens.

Addressing the Oversight

After the initial confusion, The Island Packet submitted another FOIA request, which on December 6 revealed the much-needed resignation letter from Ward to County Administrator Michael Moore, dated October 1. When asked about why the letter wasn’t included earlier, Beaufort County spokesperson Hannah Nichols explained that there was an internal oversight regarding the completeness of the records. “Our FOIA specialists work hard to process thousands of requests each year, and this was an error that was quickly corrected once we discovered additional documents,” she said.

Ward’s Departure and Future Steps

It’s essential to clarify that Ward’s resignation is unrelated to the legal investigation, as noted by Nichols, who also clarified that Ward had given a 60-day notice about two weeks prior to any public allegations. This situation marks a period of upheaval for Beaufort County, as not only did Ward depart, but also former County Attorney Thomas Keaveny, which has left the county without a permanent head for its legal department as six ethics complaints against county officials came to light.

The Road Ahead

As Beaufort County moves forward, the duties of Ward and Keaveny will temporarily be managed by deputy attorneys Dylan Kidd and Brian Hulbert while the county takes steps to permanently fill these critical roles. What’s clear is that the need for clear communication and transparency is more pressing than ever. Residents want and deserve to be kept in the loop about the workings of their local government, especially when trust and ethics come into play.