History changes the closer you get to Valdosta?

Some people have expressed surprise to learn that Brad Lofton was fired from his previous job in Effingham County. The VLCIA's own website may be part of the reason why they're surprised.

According to "In the News" on the the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA) web site:

"Lofton is currently the president and CEO of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority and the executive director of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. Lofton brings a wide range of experience to the position including time served as the executive director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Development Authority."

You have to search or scroll way down in that page to find that passage, and there's no date on it.

However, it is almost a word-for-word copy of a paragraph by Kelli Hernandez that appeared in the Moultrie Observer 16 August 2006:

"Lofton's most recent position was president and CEO of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority and the executive director of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. Lofton brings a wide range of experience to the position including time served as the executive director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Development Authority."

See the difference? "Lofton's most recent position was" in the Moultrie article is "Lofton is currently the" on the VLCIA's own web site. So which was it?

Well, Savannahnow.com reported on 14 June 2006 that Lofton was forced to resign on "Tuesday", which was 13 June 2006. The same article includes quotes from Lofton himself confirming that he was asked to resign or be fired and was walked out the door. That was two months before the Moultrie Observer article. That doesn't sound like "currently" to me.

So where did VLCIA get their paragraph? Let's look at the Valdosta Daily Times (VDT) on 15 August 2006, Lofton chosen to serve as Industrial Authority Director by Kelli Hernandez:

"Lofton is currently the president and CEO of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority and the executive director of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. Lofton brings a wide range of experience to the position including time served as the executive director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Development Authority."

The VDT paragraph is exactly the same as what VLCIA has on their website. Apparently the Moultrie Observer corrected that paragraph the next day, but neither VDT nor VLCIA has corrected their versions.

Also reporting on 16 August 2006 (same date as the Moultrie Observer article), Savannahnow.com wrote Booming South Georgia Community Lands Lofton, including:

Lofton was forced to resign June 13 as CEO of the Effingham IDA. The IDA board ran a newspaper ad June 30 alleging Lofton promised more than $5.5 million in "gifts" to potential development prospects without board approval.

Lofton said he took no actions without the approval of the executive board and that what the board referred to as "gifts" was an offer of land to a prospect that would have created 450 jobs and brought in $33 million in new investment.

Lofton said his termination stemmed from his questioning of what he called "overinflated" fees by IDA attorney Claude M. "Mickey" Kicklighter and his opposition to several board actions, including seizing through eminent domain about 2,700 acres from International Paper and a court petition for immunity from local zoning laws.

Peeples said the Valdosta authority board was aware of the circumstances of Lofton's departure from Effingham and is not troubled by it.

"Conversations with people involved in economic development in Effingham and the surrounding area led us to believe that whatever occurred there would not be an impediment to his work in Lowndes County," Peeples said.

John Peeples was Chairman of VLCIA when it hired Brad Lofton.

So the VLCIA did know. However, "would not be an impediment" does not seem quite the same as VLCIA's website containing incorrect history.

Does history change the closer you get to Valdosta?

-jsq

Comments

[JimH]

Nice haircut.

[stinks]

Oh this story just stinks.

[Leigh Touchton]

So my question is which one is telling the truth: Mr. Kicklighter and Effingham IA Board or Mr. Lofton?

I have seen emails from Mr. Lofton in which he misrepresents the Sierra Club position on biomass numerous times, even though he's been shown the facts, and I hope Mr. Quarterman will post the Georgia Sierra Club letter that was sent to Mr. Lofton asking him to stop misrepresenting their position on biomass. I've seen Mr. Lofton misrepresent the "expert credibility" of paid biomass endorsers like Dr. Christopher Teaf. Mr. Lofton accused people of "slander" when they pointed out the numerous documentations on the internet that call Dr. Teaf's credibility into question, like extensive journalistic coverage by a newspaper reporter named Hauserman in Florida, much was published in Tallahassee Democrat when Dr. Teaf endorsed the Tallahassee biomass boondoggle that was sent packing when the Tallahasse grand jury launched corruption probes. I've seen Mr. Lofton's emails wherein he offers to "partner" with a local man who refers to me as the KKK. I've seen Mr. Lofton's unprofessional emails wherein he insults local citizens and a nationally renowned pediatrician. I've seen Mr. Lofton give public presentations and misrepresent local ministers and citizens as "supporters" of the biomass boondoggle when they were unequivocally opposed to it. I've seen Mr. Lofton give powerpoint presentations in which he attempts to characterize various Valdosta entities like Valdosta State University and Moody Air Force Base as supporters of this biomass boondoogle when they are not. I've seen video of his presentations in which he ridicules the NAACP.

Given all that I've personally witnessed from Mr. Lofton, as well as the copious email record, I simply do not believe him. He has failed to do due diligence, since he didn't even know that the community closest to the proposed incinerator had been designated an Environmental Justice community by the EPA, the same EPA that he keeps saying "approves" biomass, even though numerous biomass incinerators have been blocked by using EPA rules and regulations. He failed to acknowledge any expert opinions except those of industry officials with whom he was interacting in Atlanta when he attended biomass conferences put on by Golder Associates and other industry representatives at posh, upscale Atlanta conference centers.

An Executive Director of an Industrial Authority has a duty to look into all aspects of an industry and consider the public welfare. Jobs which can kill children and elderly are not jobs that Valdosta needs.

I'm very happy Mr. Lofton is leaving Valdosta, however, I have informed the Myrtle Beach NAACP what they can probably expect when he gets there.

[Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange]

This SIerra Club letter?
http://lake.typepad.com/on-the-lake-front/2010/09/michael-noll-from-the-sierra-club-directly.html

[Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange]

Ah, this letter: http://lake.typepad.com/on-the-lake-front/2011/03/we-would-appreciate-it-if-our-position-was-no-longer-misrepresented-georgia-sierra-club.html

[Leigh Touchton]

Mr. Quarterman, do you know if the VLCIA has non-compete agreements for its employees? Because Mr. Lofton asked a friend of mine who owns an award-winning Valdosta business to relocate to Myrtle Beach with him. If I understood the various newspaper articles correctly, he is on VLCIA payroll until April 15?

I hope no Valdosta businesses relocate to Myrtle Beach with him, except the private prison and biomass. He has my encouragement to take those with him.

PS My friend told him to (colorful metaphor).

[Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange]

I don't know anything about the details of their contracts, but it sounds like maybe the public should know about them.
I think the VDT said Lofton's last day was yesterday or today.
Somebody should investigate how many of the great projects he said he left in gear in Effingham County ever actually happened.
Myrtle Beach might watch to see how many of the great projects he says he got in gear here ever actually happen.
-jsq