By Delayna Earley
The Island News
An ethics complaint that was filed against Beaufort County Superintendent Frank Rodriguez in September 2023 has been dismissed.
According to reporting from The Island Packet, Richard Bisi, a resident of Hilton Head Island, filed a complaint with the S.C. Ethics Commission against Rodriguez for hiring a consultant to give advice on strategy to allegedly build support for the $439 million school bond referendum that appeared on the ballot in November 2023.
Bisi alleged that Rodriguez used public funds to try and sway voters, per an article by The Island Packet.
At the time, Beaufort County School District spokesperson Candace Bruder said that the complaint lacked evidence, and according to an email from Bruder on Tuesday, July 2, it would appear that the S.C. Ethics Commission agreed, as the complaint has been dismissed.
“I am pleased that the ethics complaint filed against me has been thoroughly investigated and dismissed by the State Ethics Commission,” Rodriguez said in the email. “I want to express my gratitude to the community for their support and understanding during this time. My commitment to serving the best interests of our students, staff, and community remains a top priority.”
The referendum, which is expected to help with overcrowding in schools, bolstering security measures and modernizing outdated facilities, passed in November.
The policy of The Island News is to not report on ethics complaints unless they are confirmed to warrant an investigation by the S.C. Ethics Commission.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
