Jekyll Island, GA: Senator vs developer; it just got more interesting

I wrote yesterday about the committee vote that killed bills introduced by Senator Jeff Chapman meant to protect Jekyll Island State Park from inappropriate development. Two representatives of the Jekyll Island Authority spent much of their time essentially branding the Senator a liar because he accused the JIA of using misleading figures to justify a development that has garnered much public protest.

But apparently, not all of the JIA board members feel that way. One member has publicly denounced the shameful display that took place in a tiny room at the capital on Thursday.

Here's the entry from the AJC's political insider:

You know that on Thursday, the Senate Economic Development Committee killed three bills sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Chapman (R-Brunswick) intended to upend current redevelopment plans for Jekyll Island.

In the process, two members of the Jekyll Island Authority — chairman Ben Porter and board member Steve Croy — accused the senator of using lies to make his case. See the details here.

This afternoon, we got this note from Ed Boshears, a third member of the Jekyll Island Authority, indicating some sharp division among members of that board:

“I want to make it clear that I have not accused Sen. Chapman of lying and I do not think he is lying.

“There is a difference of opinion about the interpretation of certain figures concerning Jekyll. Chapman may or may not be right in what he is saying. If Porter and Croy want to make shrill, hysterical accusations that Chapman is lying, then they need to provide proof and the only way to do that is to have an outside independent agency do an evaluation of the figures.

“We are taught as attorneys never to accuse anybody of lying unless you are prepared to prove it. Porter and Croy cannot prove that he is lying and they know it.

“As the dean of my law school used to say, ‘Figures don’t lie but liars can figure.’ I did not learn how true that maxim is until I got on the Jekyll Authority Board. Porter and Croy’s statements are grossly irresponsible and I do not want anybody to think that I agree with or condone their behavior.”

Boshears, an attorney and former Republican state senator, has been a member of the board since 2005 and is one of two from the area. He's questioned the actions of other board members before; prior to the JIA's announced partnership with Linger Longer, developer Trammell Crow received a deal from the Authority that included a $10 million rent abatement. Both Boshears and Chapman questioned the wisdom of that decision since the property is prime beachfront real estate and the JIA had been using its "dire" financial situation as justification for development.

An opinion written in the Savannah Morning News says that the LLC deal should be put on hold while these allegations are investigated. Boshears just added fuel to that fire.