GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WBTW) – The Georgetown NAACP Branch held a press conference addressing the resignation of Austin Beard from the Georgetown County Council, who is accused of not living in the district he represents, breaking both county and state law.
Beard submitted his resignation to the council, according to a report in the South Strand News on Monday.
Several members of the community, including the NAACP, filed a protest against Beard earlier this year, saying he does not live in District 5, which is where he represents.
On Tuesday, members of the NAACP reacted to Beard’s resignation.
“This is only the beginning of getting answers in the many questions in Georgetown County government. The Georgetown NAACP pledge to hold county council, the county administrator and department heads accountable until we can declare the financials in regards to what is going on in the lack of oversight in Georgetown County government,” Marvin Neal, President of the NAACP Georgetown branch said.
Beard admitted that he has never lived at the Magnolia address. The Georgetown County Election Commission board members voted unanimously he is not living at his address of record.
According to Georgetown County Chairman, John Thomas, there will likely be a special election held for District 5 later this summer.