What Is Goin’ On?

When you think of Jekyll Island, you don’t think about fancy or expensive. You don’t think of money. You think of quaint, laid back and of the ocean. Jekyll has one of the longest stretches of undeveloped beachfront views of the oceans on the east coast. But, if those ramrods of riches, those guardians of power and practitioners of secrecy, the Jekyll Island Authority, have their way, all of this is going to change. And, at least one Republican business will put hundreds of millions of dollars in its pocket, Linger Longer, a Mercer Reynolds development company.

For a year now, Jekyll has been the battleground between the politically powerfulI and those who think Jekyll is first and foremost a state park which should be preserved for the families and children of Georgia, without the exclusivity of Amelia Island. During this last year, I have interviewed all the primary participants in this struggle over development on Jekyll: (1) the JIA that is charged with a public trust which they seem not to understand, (2) Linger Longer, the private company that seeks the inside tract in controlling all that is Jekyll’s future, (3) Wade Shealy, whose company was the first victim of the JIA’s skullduggery, (4) David Egan, the citizen activist who seeks to Save Jekyll, and (5) Senator Jeff Chapman (R-3), who may be risking his political future inside the Republican party by seeking to steer Jekyll on a different course than that proposed by the developers.

Earlier this year, Jekyll Island got a reprieve from beachfront development as a result of law, The Georgia Shore Protective Act. While those opposing development of the beachfront may have found solace in April, the JIA and Linger Longer were still actively plotting their next strategies to pour concrete where it had never gone before.

One of those strategies is to keep everything secret, tell no one anything, even members of the JIA. Enter Ed Boshears, a loyal Republican lawyer from Brunswick, who supported Governor Perdue, twice. But, Ed has a fatal flaw when it comes to Republican politics in Georgia. He isn’t afraid to ask questions and he doesn’t just go along to get along. Ed takes seriously his responsibility as a trustee of state property, set aside for enjoyment by the people of Georgia.

In this interview, Ed describes his efforts to do his job as a member of the JIA, and the results: kicked off the JIA board. But Ed isn’t taking it lying down. He is talking to anyone who will listen and has even requested a grand jury investigation.

Regardless of the merits of any proposal the JIA or Linger Longer put forward, their strongarm conduct to control information and deny the public any meaningful participation is shameful. And that is putting it mildly, for me, at least. This is no way to run a State Park. Jekyll is a State Park bought for the people of this state, not big-shot political contributors and appointees as some sort of personal fiefdom to do with as they please.

But what really gets me is that even when a state authority is caught playing politics, even when it treats the citizens as unworthy of sincere consideration, no one, elected officials, that is, does anything about it. No one, not the Governor, not the legislature, not the Republican leadership comes to the aid of the people. None of them are outraged at the sheer display of arrogance. None of them are offended by the JIA tactics.

Where is the leadership of the Republican Party in the State of Georgia?

Where is the Governor, the lame duck, Sonny Perdue? ANSWER: In Spain!

Where is Casey Cagle who says he wants to change the politically charged atmosphere in Georgia, and who intends to run for Governor in 2010?

Where are Sen. Eric Johnson, President Pro Tempore of the Georgia Senate, and Rep. Jerry Keen, House Majority Leader, who are both “advisory” members of the JIA?

Where is Sen. Tommie Williams, a member of the Senate Oversight Committee, who used to be a country boy who grew up poorer than dirt before he started selling pine straw gathered by Mexican laborers, some legal and some not?

Where are these Republicans? Moving up the ladder. They do what Republicans do best: support money and turn a deaf ear to people.

Take Ed, a long-time Republican. He gets no respect. He gets no consideration. His questions, not even worthy of a response.

Take Senator Chapman, in my opinion one of the rare Republicans who wants to listen, understand and do the right thing. Why can’t he get the JIA’s attention with one phone call?

Why? Because the Republican leadership in this State, from Sonny on down, do not tolerate anyone, much less a Republican, asking questions. That is why the little dictator in the House, Glenn Richardson, removes recalcitrant Republicans from their committees and banishes them from the capital if they dare question his decisions or authority.

In this Republican administration, the only good Republican is a co-conspirator, someone who will go along to get along, who will put party loyalty over the welfare of the people of this state.

It is truly disgusting!