Business Council asks Harrison County supervisors to reappoint tourism board president

BILOXI, Mississippi (WLOX) – The Gulf Coast Business Council is appealing to Harrison County leaders regarding the future of the Mississippi coast.

The board sent a letter to the Harrison County Board of Supervisors ahead of their July 5 meeting, where there will be discussions regarding the Mississippi Coastal Tourism Commission.

“In the years since the creation of the regional tourism commission, we have seen many members of the commission’s board of directors and professional staff working within the commission resign in response to the continued turnover of management. and the resulting lack of stability. existed in the agency,” the letter read.

The Business Council letter goes on to ask the Board of Supervisors to reappoint Brooke Shoultz as chair of the tourism commission.

“Furthermore, we believe Brooke understands the need for continued regional stability, as evidenced by her efforts to strengthen regional cooperation by working with Hancock and Jackson county leaders,” the letter read.

The tourism board has been at odds over the past year following the abrupt resignation of former CEO Milton Segarra. His resignation set off a domino effect with Hancock County Commissioner Mark Henderson and Jackson County Commissioners Carla Todd and Clay Wagner all resigning within days. (It should be noted that Wagner’s resignation from the board was tied to his decision to seek public office.)

Recently, four other Coastal Mississippi staff resigned, after a heated exchange at a supervisory board meeting between Connie Rockco, Rebecca Powers and Marlin Ladner. At that meeting, Rockco said Schoultz would not stay past July 1, when his term was due to expire, but Powers said Shoultz told him differently.

Currently, the Tri-County Commission has nine members from Harrison County and three from Jackson and Hancock counties. Several Harrison County supervisors told WLOX News off-camera that they believe Harrison County should remain in control when it comes to the tourism board.

The appointments to the tourism commission were possibly going to be discussed at the July 5 supervisory board meeting.

Biloxi resident Thomas Sherman was appointed by the board to replace Shoultz, but not as chairman of the board. The commissioners would be responsible for voting for a new leader.

You can read the full letter below.

Want more WLOX news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Copyright 2022 WLOX. All rights reserved.