Letter: If columnist Campbell is looking for conspiracy, look how Commissioner Smith stays in office

Henry Chamberlain, Palm City

Letter: If Campbell is looking for conspiracy, look how Commissioner Smith stays in office

Rich Campbell’s April 28 column did not deserve publication, even on an Opinion page.

The most important point is Martin County Commissioner Doug Smith has not “won” an election in the last two elections. His opposition has split the opposition vote allowing a minority to elect. If one is searching for a “conspiracy,” why not look at this?

One of these candidates had to purchase the right to be on the ballot, because he could not obtain sufficient petitions to qualify. Could the funds have come from Smith in some way, to assure the split opposition, and repeat the previous “election?”

The column proposes conspiracy among the current board. How does he deal with the previous board, which consistently voted in unison, to not even allow Sarah Heard to assume the chairmanship, as has been the standard practice, as well as to approve many developments in conflict with comprehensive plan requirements (wetlands, concurrency, etc.) and the Urban Services Boundary?

I find Campbell’s slurs, innuendoes and unsupported accusations to be cheap shots, similar to many of Smith’s statements in the past.

Whose park is Jensen Beach — his private estate? How many valid reasons does it take to avoid the big investment and loss of park space to create a mooring field and the additional facilities to manage it, and whose use is questionable?

I find the column to be in poor taste, a cheap shot by someone with a platform to throw rocks from at those who a large majority of Martin voters elected to change the practices damaging the environment and the quality of life of those living here by the previous “conspirators.”