“I refuse to sit by and allow an anonymous person to attempt to erode all the hard work that we have done to promote tourism and business in the Cayce and West Columbia area,” said Tim James, Chamber President and CEO. He spoke Tuesday at the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber Breakfast at Stone River in West Columbia.

The Chamber has been targeted by the Post and Courier newspaper that ran a news article, based on an anonymous complaint, insinuating the Chamber had not properly filed required spending records.

But a report from TERC, a state review committee, exonerated the Chamber after a thorough investigation. The Chamber, Cayce Councilman James and three other Cayce Council Members (Hunter Sox, Byron Thomas, Phil Carter) have also been subjected to a smear campaign by posters on a Cayce social media gossip page that runs negative media bashing Cayce City Council and then censors the comments of those who disagree.

As he spoke Tuesday, James referred to the “anonymous complaint” that spurred the TERC investigation. He called the accusation an embarrassment and said the only media reporting it was The Post and Courier.

James also noted that the Chamber quickly complied with the investigation and TERC immediately cleared the Chamber and closed the investigation. The TERC report also complemented the Chamber and the manner in which the Chamber used the funds entrusted to it.

When he opened his comments, James said: “While we don’t use this podium for political discussion, the podium is here to inform and update our members on matters that directly impact them, and sometimes, like today, the two matters overlap, at which time we choose open and transparent communication with our Chamber membership.”

James closed by saying he was awed by the “steadfast support and encouragement” he has received from many members of the Community and Chamber members.