Commissioner Graham Chides Chairman Bankston For Shredding Arts Cigarette Tax Letter; Says Sunshine Law Violated

  • Wednesday, November 25, 2015

County Commissioner Joe Graham on Wednesday chided Chairman Chester Bankston for shredding a letter related to the proposed cigarette tax to aid the arts.

"Have you shredded any other county legal documents?" he demanded.

Chairman Bankston replied, "No, I have not done that."

He said the letter did not get the necessary six signatures to forward to the Legislature.

He stated, "I put the letter there and I removed it."

Commissioner Graham also said the arts tax issue was handled "in the back room" and he said he believes the Sunshine Law was violated.

He said he has been checking with the state on that issue.

Commissioner Tim Boyd, a supporter of giving citizens a vote on the issue, said there had been a prior letter involving whiskey legislation "that Commissioner Graham signed and I did not sign."

Commissioner Graham said he did sign the whiskey letter, but did so in public after the group made a presentation to the full commission. He said that letter did get the needed support and the measure went into law.

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