Parks chairman focus of inquiryEthics agency examines credit card incident By Robert Behre (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, December 28, 2007
Ethics agency examines credit card incident Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission Chairman Kevin Hollinshead is being investigated by the State Ethics Commission after using a county credit card to buy $213 worth of tickets to an Indianapolis Colts game, an upgrade to first class and about $300 in other personal charges during a September trip to Indiana. He later wrote the county a $571.57 check to cover those expenses, but records obtained by The Post and Courier show it bounced. Hollinshead said Thursday he used the county credit card because his wallet was stolen during the trip, and he plans to reimburse the county soon. "That's in the works," he said. "I didn't do anything wrong, so I'm not sweating it." Commissioners discussed the incident behind closed doors earlier this month, and they later voted to refer the matter to the Ethics Commission, the state agency in charge of ensuring that public officials don't misuse their office for personal gain. Ethics complaints are normally kept in confidence until the commission decides if the matter warrants a public rebuke or, in the most serious cases, attention from a solicitor. No one from the Ethics Commission was available this week for comment. The discovery of Hollinshead's credit card charges has elevated the tension within the agency that operates the county's regional parks. Ever since the agency received $36 million in half-cent sales tax proceeds to buy more land, the normally staid board has been anything but. Commissioners have clashed over land deals, such as the $10 million purchase of the 420-acre Harmony Hall tract in Meggett. Some felt $10 million was too much money for property in a part of the county where the PRC already had significant holdings. While the commissioners didn't publicly discuss Hollinshead's travel expenses, they later debated whether to hold a new election for chairman. The commission normally elects a chairman in July but didn't this year because several members, including Hollinshead, were not reappointed. They continue to serve indefinitely because of a recent S.C. Supreme Court ruling that raises a question about whether County Council or state lawmakers should appoint them. Neither group has acted. The commissioners ultimately postponed their chairman election until they review their bylaws and approach the Charleston County Legislative Delegation to clarify their status. The discovery of Hollinshead's credit card charges comes as some commissioners already were concerned about apparent attempts to steer PRC contracts to certain firms. At its November board meeting, commissioners squabbled over a consulting contract for a land deal involving Jenkins Institute for Children. Commissioner Robert New asked if any commissioners had solicited business for, or had any business relationship with, any of the consultants under consideration. Hollinshead laughed at New's remark, but New asked the commissioners to answer yes or no to his question. Several quickly said "no" but others, including Hollinshead, did not answer. Eleven firms originally sought the contract, and some commissioners complained they weren't evaluated equally, at least not at first. New said that several people involved in the evaluation had scored one firm with a perfect score, and gave the other firms zeroes. "Obviously, this process has been politicized," he said. "This does not pass the smell test." The commission later agreed to bring four or five firms in for interviews. Another issue splitting the board is whether the agency is being aggressive enough in hiring and promoting minorities and contracting with minority firms. As commissioners started to debate whether to elect a new chairman, Hollinshead raised the issue of diversity. "If we're going to be about diversity, we're going to have to do a better job about including everybody," he said. "We don't encourage our vendors to partner with anyone who is not like them." Hollinshead and Commissioners Aaron Polkey and Nathaniel Brown voted against adding the chairman election to the agenda, while Commissioners New, Mark Kearns, John Dodds and Lisa King voted to do so. The election itself was postponed after Dodds agreed to delay it. Hollinshead said Thursday he is preparing a letter detailing New's misconduct in office. Hollinshead declined to go into details and said he expected to release the letter next month. "My letter is going to come from my attorney in writing and it's going to go to the Ethics Commission, and you'll see," he said. "I've got documentation." New could not be reached for comment Thursday. The commission also may have violated the Freedom of Information Act by discussing Hollinshead's travel in closed session, said Jay Bender, a lawyer for the S.C. Press Association. "If they were, in fact, in there asking a commissioner about expenditures, that's not appropriate for executive session in the first place," Bender said. The Post and Courier had to file a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain the documents showing all commissioners' recent travel expenses. David Slade contributed to this report. Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com. |
Article tools |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 8 comment(s)
Posted by majorjohnson on December 28, 2007 at 4:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know about his travel expenses, if he really lost his wallet while on business I wouldn't have a problem with his using the card and reimbursing later, but bouncing a check doing it? This guy is guarding millions of tax dollars and he bounces a $570 check? If he can't keep $600 in his checking account what the heck is he doing with our tax dollars?
And I wouldn't give a thimble full of warm spit for how much diversity my tax dollars pay for...I'm more interested in am I getting what I pay for. Sound to me like Charleston got a diverse PRC chairman who can't handle his own 3 digit finances. How is he handling 8 digits worth of tax dollars?
Posted by ChrisPia on December 28, 2007 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Institute Of Basic Life Priciple(Bill Gothard -Cult) covered Nash's Expenses for a seminar 5 years ago in Romainia 4-14-04 P&C Article By Nita Birmingmam & Bo Peterson......
But He also spent thousands of dollars for paties and luncheons,dinners,and flight training for several deputies.The expenditure that gathered the most attention was more than $40,000 he paid cross roads community church for the chaplain program.For Many Months the monthly check to the church was 10 percent of the amount received from the Marshall service 6-5-01 by Boobbie Young P&C article...
I Have a Problem,and I Think some of our citizens would have a problem with tax money being paid to a church,'Scott said.I pay my tithes every week' he said "but I don't ask the taxpayers to do it'. Nash Replied He didn't Think it was tax money because it comes from the Federal Government.6-5-01 by bobbie young P&C
Does an Ethics Commission even exist?
The Citizens Of This County,put me in office,and they can put me out of office' Ray Nash Said 7-8-00 P&C Article By Bobbie Young
Posted by noradellova on December 28, 2007 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, it looks like this arrogant snort is about to get his just due. Clearly, he lives above his means, and his wallet was probably full of spider webbs, after all, he wrote a check for less than $600, and was unable to get the money to the bank on time. He has an over exaggerated opinion of himself, and he clearly tries to get others to think he is smart and economically abundant. Fact is, he is no more than an underhanded crook. Mere admonishment of this person is not sufficient. To be sure, he is one who is prone to play the race card whenever most things do not stretch in his favor.
He is a disgrace to law abiding, decent, hard working African Americans, and it is encumbent upon the powers that be, to immediately remove him from office. Okay, so members of the commission might have erred, when they entered into discussion of him, behind closed doors. I think he should be paid for any damages and booted out the door.
The story which he offers is assuming that any and everyone who is listening too it is stupid.
How many times did he leave his wallet home? Was it when he bought the tickets for the football game? Or, was it when he upgraded his flight to first class? Moreover, does he walk around with that commission credit card in his hand or in his shirt pocket? Hell-o, he made two distinctly different purchases in two different places, since he did not have his wallet, can we assume that he traveled via public transportation? Or perhaps he was provided transportation by someone in his family or a friend.
In any event, there are some serious legal issues at hand;
Primary among them is premediation and intent. Even if he caught a cab or the bus, he knew or he would have known, or should have known, that he did not have his wallet.
If he did not bum a ride from someone and he did not use any form of public transportation, then one could reasonably assert, that he has on the surface, confessed to operating a motor vehicle, without a license.
Hollingshed, you STINK.
My advice to you is...YOU HAVE BEEN CAUGHT WITH YOUR HANDS IN THE COOKIE JAR, YOU PETTY THIEF YOU. DO YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, AND THE WELL DESERVING CITIZENS OF CHARLESTON COUNTY A FAVOR, AND RELINQUISH THE POST. I am willing to bet, not even Robert Ford will touch this one.
Perhaps you should pursue the family trade, because it is obvious that some of it has rubbed off on you. Happy Plumbing.
Posted by Carolina_Politics on December 28, 2007 at 9:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Something about this doesn't sit quite right with me. To begin with, and this is just a minor observation of mine, but I think it's kind of strange that he didn't have the county credit card in his wallet with everything else. I have a corporate credit card with my company that is for travel expenses for company business and it is in my wallet with all of my other cards. Apparently Hollinshead had his kept elsewhere on his person while he was traveling. I just think that's a little strange unless these were online purchases where he didn't have to physically present the card in order to use it.
Assuming that his story is true and that his wallet was stolen and the only access he had to money was the county credit card then I could understand him needing to use it for necessary expenses until he returned home. However, I must again raise an eyebrow because Indianapolis Colt tickets and a first class airline upgrade are not necessary expenses. Regardless as to whether or not he intended to pay these off at a later time, I would consider that abuse of the credit card.
Then last but not least, the guy bounces the check he wrote to pay for these personal charges he made. This is not very reassuring.
Perhaps Hollinshead is not guilty of any wrong doing here, but I don't necessarily know that this man should be the chairman of this commission. That just makes me a little uneasy.
http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com
Posted by buttercup on December 29, 2007 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well ChrisPia I see you are at it again bashing the Sheriff, he has nothing to do with this article. If you are going to make a comment, make a comment on the article at hand. I for one would like to know whay you hate the Sheriff so bad. Like I said before if you think that bashing the Sheriff makes you look good you are sadly mistaken. ”LOL”
Posted by ChrisPia on December 29, 2007 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just stating The facts Buttercup.Tell daddy It's a witch Hunt or i'm Demonic LOL
Posted by buttercup on December 29, 2007 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ChrisPie, you still have not answered my question. I guess I will have to go out and do some research.
Posted by ChrisPia on December 29, 2007 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Because He is a wolf in sheeps clothing?