Sources having breakfast at the Myrtle Beach Snak Shak located at 5211 N Kings Hwy in the city of Myrtle Beach, SC informed us today, that former Myrtle Beach County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus told all in earshot exactly how events at Wednesday’s scheduled interview process for hiring a new County Administrator would unfold.
Lazarus stated it would be Johnny Vaught who would make a motion to go into executive session and stated Vaught had the votes to make that happen.
Questions remain as to how the former Chairman knew what the current Chairman did not. Certainly current Chairman Gardner would not have called a meeting if he knew the outcome of the vote would be to only embarrass himself.
Lazarus has strong ties to the city of Myrtle Beach. He is closely connected to current Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune, and also, former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes.
Mark Lazarus also enjoyed the important chemistry that the County Council Chairman must have with his number two, the County Administrator, Chris Eldridge. For County government to run smoothly that relationship and that trust bond must be exceptional.
Mark Lazarus did much of the bidding of the tourism lobby, the real estate lobby, and the coast during his tenure in office. Chris Eldridge, his top liaison (County Administrator) was on the board of the search committee hand picked to find a new C.E.O. of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce when Brad Dean resigned.