SLED has announced it will investigate the former mayor of the town of James Island, near Charleston, for her handling of town funds while in office. In August, Mary Clark was unseated in an election by Bill Woolsey. Clark was the only mayor the town of James Island had ever known since becoming incorporated. As he was preparing to succeed her, Woolsey claimed he discovered several “questionable” checks on her last days in office. He says Clark wrote five $1,000 checks to the Sea Islands Chamber of Commerce without any town council knowledge or oversight. Woolsey then asked SLED to look into the situation.
SLED says “we are investigating allegations of financial irregularities dealing with the town of James Island at the request of the mayor.” Although the agency cannot comment more than that at this point, Clark says she will not comment on town matters now that she is out of office.
