Some projects are too important to leave to others and Beaufort's and South Carolina's cadre of business people and retired military experts prove saving the bases is important to the four counties that could be affected.
Closure of the three military bases in Beaufort would mean a $454 million annual loss to the economy. A study completed this year shows that 20 percent of the work force is employed by the military. The loss of bases in Richland, Sumter and Charleston could be at least as significant there.
A contingent from the four-county area will try to improve its case in discussions with officials in Washington on Tuesday. The $50,000 delivered last Monday by Gov. Mark Sanford and state Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, chairman of the governor's military base task force, supplies financial ammunition to Beaufort County's efforts. The other three counties soon will receive $50,000 each, bringing to $100,000 the amount each county has received from the state to use in this battle.
Other areas, Texas in particular, have spent millions employing high-powered consultants and public relations firms to prepare slick presentations.
Beaufort's base closure campaign, led by the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce's Military Enhancement Committee, plans to save money by taking advantage of the area's vast military retirement community instead of hiring expensive consultants.
The Beaufort community expects to spend $215,000 to defend its three installations. All municipalities and the county have allocated money to save the bases.
The Department of Defense is looking to cut at least 25 percent of bases in the coming round of closures.
"There's nothing that will be off the table," said retired Marine Corps Col. Wesley Jarmulowicz, chairman of the Military Enhancement Committee. "That's what worries me."
Issues that will be important in closure discussions will include community support and the importance of a base in defense strategy. While community support is important, it won't drive the process, Jarmulowicz said.
All things are not equal, but we'd like to think that military and government officials in Washington like talking to homegrown talent, the men and women who live, work and have served in the military in a community. They may not be quite as polished as the multimillion-dollar professional consultants, but they have what counts most -- sincerity, heart and knowledge of the area.