Atlantic Beach community members came together at Nora Lener’s restaurant Thursday night to try to come up with ways on how they said they could better the image of their town.
Among those who attended, was Mayor Retha Pierce who briefly talked about her recent arrest. Authorities arrested and booked Pierce last Thursday for DUI in Marion County.
Pierce told the packed room that she was innocent and that, "there are shadow people out to get her."She also addressed comments made by representative Tracy Edge related to Pierce's latest arrest.
She said that she found it rude when he said, "she needs to behave."
She said she's disappointed that the only time Atlantic Beach ever gets attention is when she has a run in with the law.
"When I think about how I have been depicted and how I know that there are shadow people who are working with town council people along with my own law enforcement folks here in Atlantic Beach to really help depict me as a criminal and the way I am showing up a lot in these last four cases I guess that just worked my emotions a little but ultimately I will remember that God is in control," said Pierce.
Last week a judge granted Pierce a personal recognizance but Pierce kept insisting that she hadn't done anything wrong.
"I'm not guilty of what I was arrested for I don't drink, I don't take drugs I don't use drugs, deal with drugs in any way so if you're not guilty of any of that that's what you would say is a false arrest," explained Pierce.
Tuesday night Atlantic Beach town council voted to send a resolution to Governor Sanford for him to remove the mayor from office, but that's something only the governor can do in South Carolina.
Pierce’s DUI arrest last week was just the most-recent of a number of run-ins with the law.
Three other past incidents include charges of trespassing inside Atlantic Beach town hall, resisting arrest at a traffic stop and leaving the scene of a hit and run.
While Pierce has been arrested several times, she has not been convicted of any of the charges.
Community members also talked about creating educational programs for neighborhood children and electing new officials to take over town council in November.
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