By Paul Gable
It seems a few campaign donations can accelerate building projects in the Charleston County School District.
According to information on the S.C. Ethics Commission website, CCSD Board of Trustees Chairman Cindy Bohn Coats, Vice Chairman Chris Staubes and member Kate Darby were all recipients of campaign donations from Carolina Park Development LLC, CDM of Charleston LLC and GFP Portside LLC.
Each of the three above named candidates received the maximum $1,000 donation from each of the three companies.
The companies are involved in the Carolina Park development in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
At the January 12, 2015 meeting of the CCSD Board of Trustees, the New Carolina Park Elementary School, which will be located in the Carolina Park development, was approved for advance design and construction, two or more years ahead of initial schedule.
Approved early funding for New Carolina Park Elementary School design and construction amounted to $41 million of the $59.2 million early out project total approved by CCSD Board of Trustees at that meeting.
There is nothing illegal or unethical about the campaign donations or the vote.
But, one must wonder whether the donations played a part in the approval of early out status for the project.
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