The committee charged with revising Augusta’s charter is taking shape.
At the urging of Mayor Garnett Johnson, the commission voted last year to form a committee to revise the charter and use the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia to facilitate the process.
The Augusta Press requested the list of commissioner-appointees last week and was provided seven names. One commissioner provided an eighth.
One commissioner who hadn’t provided a name, Tony Lewis, said Monday he is waiting on his choice to “weigh the options.” The commission’s criteria excluding current and former elected officials rules out many, Lewis said.
“I guess having Carl Vinson is going to be beneficial, but it does a disservice because now you’re going to have, maybe, neophytes to city government,” he said.
Lewis’ first choice, a local lawyer, had to be excluded because he once served in the legislature, Lewis said. Several others around town who are knowledgeable about the charter and local government processes are excluded due to holding elected office, he said.
“It rules out a lot of good people on both sides,” he said.
Who’s on the committee?
- District 1: Lester McCorn, president of Paine College
- District 2: Vacant as of Feb. 19
- District 3: Marci Wilhelmi, aviation and civic activist
- District 4: Tanya Barnhill-Turnley, consultant and Alvin Mason’s campaign manager
- District 5: Marvin Cole, retired Army first sergeant who founded Building Unity in the Community, Inc.
- District 6: Vacant as of Feb. 19
- District 7: Lee Powell, neighborhood activist and drone operator
- District 8: Vacant as of Feb. 19
- District 9: Lonnie Wimberly, retired city employee and president of the Richmond County Neighborhood Association Alliance
- District 10: Steve Foushee, small business owner
- Mayor: Roderick Pearson, Garnett Johnson campaign loyalist and former educator
