Tybee News Staff

9/7/2009 - A group of 30 to 40 Tybee Island residents has come together to form a new political action committee (PAC) for the purpose of endorsing candidates in the upcoming Tybee Island municipal elections in November.  Two organizational meetings have been held so far.

Called “Forever Tybee,” the group is being led by Sandi Postle of 505 Miller Ave., Apt. C., who is also an active member of the Tybee Neighbors group, chaired by Sandy Major.

Postle says that many of the Forever Tybee activists are also active with Tybee Neighbors but explains that, “We set up Forever Tybee to be a legal PAC, to be able to do everything legally, so we could endorse.”

Tybee Neighbors seeks to be a local residents’ group working on civic activities, including Neighborhood Watch programs.  The group also conducts surveys throughout the year on its Web site, asking about topical issues in the community and then issuing reports on its findings.

A new Web site has been created for Forever Tybee, at www.forevertybee.com, where the group’s issues and concerns about the conduct of the current city council are outlined.

Candidates for office are invited to contact Forever Tybee to gain the group’s endorsement, according to Postle, who said that they are already interviewing some candidates and will make decisions on their endorsements about a week after all election papers are in.  

Candidates can file election papers with the city clerk, Vivian Woods, between Aug. 31 and Sept. 4.  Candidates are asked to e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact Postle at 912-786-4228 if they would like the group’s endorsement.

The group’s stated core goals are “ethical, open and transparent government.”  

Tyler S. Marion, a representative of the group who “represents a younger generation on Tybee,” according to Postle, made a brief presentation on the formation of the group at the Aug. 13 city council meeting. “He represents why we all came to Tybee,” Postle said.

Mayor Jason Buelterman, who has announced that he is seeking re-election, told The Tybee News that he had not been contacted by Forever Tybee to be interviewed and was not aware that he was invited to. But he made clear, “I welcome anyone’s support.”

No dues are being charged though “we are seeking contributions for advertising and other expenses,” Postle stated.

The group has outlined six principal focus areas:
1. Protecting Tybee's beaches and marshes, artistic and historical treasures, small businesses and the unique character of the island;
2. Listening objectively and respectfully to city committees and citizens speaking at public hearings;
3. Upholding the city charter, master plan, ethics ordinance and all other city laws, codes and ordinances;
4. Encouraging and empowering volunteerism and participation in open government;
5. Complying with the Georgia Open Meetings and Open Records Acts;
6. Respecting the city manager form of government by avoiding direct involvement in the day-to-day operations of the city.

“During a recent city council meeting, Cullen Chambers, the highly respected director of the Historical Society, stated ‘Something is wrong here.’ He was absolutely right. Since the last city council election, people have been afraid. Afraid that a group of citizens on Tybee, with questionable motives, would now control most council decisions for the next two years. It didn't take long after their January inaugurations for these fears to become realized,” according to the group’s Web site.

Forever Tybee lists 10 arbitrary decisions made since the current council was sworn into office in January 2008 as examples of its concerns:
•  Rescinded an excellent ethics ordinance•  Rejected a meaningful proposed shore protection ordinance despite the months of study on the issue by the Planning Commission, coastal experts, beachfront property owners and community leaders, and repealed all meaningful shore protection.•  Regularly approved variance requests when no hardship was present (ignoring the law as expressed in the Land Development Code).
• Gutted the Planning Commission so it will reflect their views.
• Suppressed citizens from speaking at meetings.
• Refused to accept a free state-offered recycling trailer for special events.
• Wasted $20,000 applying to the Department of Natural Resources to bulldoze the sand dunes to create a 2.7 mile, 20-foot-wide road on the beach.
• Made major changes to Memorial Park prior to the completion of the public input period and public hearings on a comprehensive plan designed by a committee and architect who volunteered hundreds of hours developing the plan.
• Destroyed the all-volunteer dog park over the objections of more than a hundred    supporters and instituted new ones (at a cost of over $30,000) to be maintained using taxpayer dollars.
• Damaged Tybee Island’s reputation in the county and region through the above actions and by walking out on and turning their backs on citizens during public testimony.

“Most of these actions were made with no logical reasons given and minimal council discussion. Despite the fact that hundreds of Tybee voters spoke against these actions,  council showed little regard for citizen concerns and often treated citizens rudely during public hearings. They have also consistently disregarded concerns set forth by Mayor Buelterman,” the group’s public statement on its issues outlines.

The group will meet to consider its endorsements on Sept. 9.  Postle said that “a small subgroup of the board, which includes eight to 11 people, will decide on the endorsements.”

To raise funds, the group has planned a Giant Yard and Bake Sale, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  on Sept. 26 at the Old School Cafeteria in Memorial Park; a series of “neighborhood socials” between Sept. 20 and Oct. 25; and “Candidate Parties” on Oct. 30, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 before the Nov. 3 election.   
The group’s regular monthly meeting in October will be on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at the cafeteria.