UPDATED: Allegations of Lee County commissioner breaking disclosure rules “ring” after 4:24 a.m. text on $5B Project

A predawn text from Lee County Commissioner Chair Kirk Smith, sent hours after a packed and heated public meeting, has sparked allegations of a closed-session breach and raised new tensions over a proposed $5 billion investment tied to fracking and data centers.

Smith sent the text message at 4:24 a.m. to each commissioner, according to Commissioner Cameron Sharpe.

Sharpe said the text was sent to each commissioner on March 17, the morning after the March 16 meeting when the public was allowed to speak. The Ruby McSwain Agricultural Center’s meeting room filled to capacity with public speakers against fracking and data centers.

“No one was supposed to know because the meeting with SAGA [Sanford Area Growth Alliance] was in closed session,” Sharpe said about Smith sending a text message with the investment amount of $5 billion.

“I commend you for succumbing to the mob. You lost a potential $5 billion investment in Lee County. Now you created more work for staff to draw up two separate moratoriums, two more public hearings on those moratoriums and all while they are working on our next budget. You do know that last night’s mob was a fraction of the nearly 70,000 citizens of Lee,” reads the text sent by Chair Kirk Smith, according to Sharpe.

Sharpe said he was not intimidated by the text message, but said he and the others found it rude to be awakened with it at 4:24 a.m.

Sharpe explained that the moratorium was something to put in place “for a short period of time” for gathering input for the rule set, which the City of Sanford released on April 1. Read it here.

While the debate over using fracking to supply energy to a data center continues, the likelihood remains slim because the venture of using fracking is new and not without risks.

Sharpe said he was leaning toward support for a data center because of the $5 billion investment, but he did not support fracking.

Read about the March 16 meeting that moved Smith to send the text message here.

Sandhills News reached out to commissioners, and should they each respond with new information, the article will be updated.

Sandhills News first received notice of this information via email.

UPDATE #1: Smith emailed Sandhills News on Easter Sunday.

“Fact: Lee County Commissioner Cameron Sharpe, shared his copy of the text with the Sandhills News,” Smith wrote.

However, Sandhills News had received an email with a copy of Smith’s text message from someone who did not identify as Sharpe.

The next Lee County Commissioner’s meeting is Monday, April 6 at 5:50 p.m.

UPDATE #2: There is no scheduled public comment period. If you would like to share a public comment and have it published for full transparency, email your statement and full name to editor@sandhills.news by 8 p.m. on April 6, 2026.

April 4, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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