A member of Atlantic Beach Town Council has accused state Sen. Dick Elliott and town Mayor Irene Armstrong of trying to control the town's development and finances for their own benefit and is asking state officials to investigate.

Councilwoman Delores Wilson sent a letter detailing her accusations last week to Sen. Wes Hayes, chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee. Wilson sent copies of the letter to Gov. Mark Sanford; Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston; and news media.

Armstrong denied the accusations Tuesday and said they are politically motivated.

Mary Eaddy, a spokeswoman for Elliott, called Wilson's letter "a political stunt two weeks before the election."

"[Wilson] needs help, and I hope she gets some very soon," Eaddy said.

Wilson said the letter was not motivated by next month's election but was an attempt to bring closure to years of political upheaval and personal feuds in the town.

"I've been a victim of rumors and name-calling, and I've seen other people being threatened," Wilson said. "I felt it was time to tell what I know and bring an end to this before anyone else is hurt. Enough is enough. This isn't about politics; this is about the truth."

Elliott is running for re-election this year, and Armstrong has been involved in a long-running feud with Town Manager Carolyn Montgomery, Wilson and other council members.

"This is asinine," Armstrong said. "I'm just going to turn all of this over to my lawyer."

In an Oct. 14 letter to Hayes, Wilson says that Elliott and Armstrong have had a romantic relationship and that the pair "has been one of the most devastating and detrimental obstacles faced by the town of Atlantic Beach."

"That's crazy," Armstrong said. "I won't even dignify that accusation with a response."

Hayes said Tuesday that he has received the letter and will contact Wilson in the next few days to see whether it was intended as a request for information or as a formal ethics complaint against Elliott and Armstrong.

"If it's a formal complaint, then we will investigate it to see if there's merit," Hayes said. "If we find there's merit, we'll convene the ethics committee and hold a hearing."

Hayes said no action can be taken until after the Nov. 2 election because state law prohibits ethics hearings against politicians within 50 days of their bid for re-election.

State law also requires ethics complaints to be kept confidential, and Hayes said Elliott could file an ethics complaint against Wilson for leaking her letter to the media.

"If this is a complaint, and [Wilson] has gone to the press with that complaint, that could be a complaint in itself," Hayes said.

In her letter, Wilson said an investigation of Elliott and Armstrong would "reveal the use of power and influence in a conspiracy to undermine the municipal government, gain financially, and harass and intimidate people into silence."

Armstrong, who works as a sales agent in Elliott's real estate agency, said the letter is part of an ongoing attempt by Wilson, Montgomery and others to undermine her credibility.

"This is horrible, a nightmare," Armstrong said. "Where does it all end?"

Wilson's letter outlines six examples of what she says is Elliott using his position to influence matters in Atlantic Beach, including:

Having the State Law Enforcement Division remove one of its officers from his post as interim police chief in Atlantic Beach because Armstrong was opposed to the officer.

Asking the U.S. Department of Labor to investigate alleged labor-law violations by the town.

Asking the state Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department to overlook alleged misappropriation of state funds by Armstrong.

Asking the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to investigate construction of a restaurant by Tyson Beach Group, a company that is owned partially by Montgomery's husband.

Asking the state's Employment Security Commission to levy unnecessary fines against the town and rule that Atlantic Beach must pay unemployment benefits for Armstrong's friends, even though they voluntarily left their jobs with the town.

The letter also makes reference to a $6,000 loan Elliott gave to Armstrong last year, using land Armstrong owns that is in the path of the North Myrtle Beach connector as collateral. Armstrong is battling the S.C. Department of Transportation over how much the state should pay for right-of-way acquisition for a slice of the 3.7-acre parcel where the connector project is slated.

Elliott did not disclose the loan on his annual Statement of Economic Interests form, which is supposed to detail legislators' business and financial dealings. Most legislators do not include personal information on the form.

"My private business is my private business," Elliott said last week when the loan was reported by The Sun News.

In a separate matter, Wilson and council members John Sketers and Charlene Taylor have been trying to schedule hearings to determine whether Armstrong and Councilwoman Gloria Lance should be removed from office because of violations of state laws. A circuit court judge said last month that those hearings can't be held until late December.

The allegations against Armstrong and Lance include unauthorized use of public money and using their council positions for personal gain. Armstrong and Lance say they have not committed any crimes.

Wilson, Sketers and Taylor are awaiting the outcome of their appeal to the state Supreme Court of last year's town election results. Wilson and Sketers lost their council seats in that election. Taylor lost her bid to unseat Armstrong as mayor but retained her council position.

The three council members have said the election should be overturned because of violations of the state's secret-ballot laws. The high court heard their arguments Sept. 21 and could rule on the matter at any time. Wilson and Sketers continue to serve on the council until the issue is resolved.