The Richmond County Neighborhood Alliance (RCNA) held a news conference on the grounds of the Municipal Building Tuesday, Oct. 5, to protest the legal process that led to Alvin Mason being named acting commissioner of the fourth district of Augusta.
Around 30 people gathered with many holding signs protesting that the citizens of the district had no input on the process that put former two-term commissioner Alvin Mason back into office after Commissioner Sammie Sias was suspended by Gov. Brian Kemp.
MORE: Alvin Mason Installed as Interim District 4 Commissioner
Sias is under indictment and faces two felony charges for lying to the FBI and destroying documents related to his tenure as the director of the Jamestown Community Center. If convicted, Sias faces a possible 20-year prison sentence.
At the press conference, Eugene Lowry, president of the RCNA, stated that the group did not have a problem with Mason himself, but rather they were concerned that the community group was not included in any discussions about a possible replacement for Sias.
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According to Lowry, the issue is one of transparency by local elected officials.
“We want our elected officials to come to us, let us know what they are doing, how they are doing it, and when they are doing it. That’s all we ask,” Lowry said.
In between speakers, the small crowd chanted, “I want to be heard.”
Speaker Rozalyn Shepard spoke directly to the commissioners, saying that she was there on behalf of numerous community-based organizations, although she did not identify those organizations by name.
“We want to work with you and we want you to work with us. We extend an invitation to any representative who has not done so to work with the community through the Neighborhood Alliance,” Shepard said.
The press conference was abruptly cut short when Jo’rae Jenkins, community activist and former candidate in the 2020 district nine commission race, was denied an opportunity to speak.
When Jenkins approached to give her comments, Shepard shut the meeting down and stated flatly to Jenkins, “This press conference is over.”
“I don’t understand why they wouldn’t let me speak. I am a community activist. I should have had a right to speak. Everyone should have a right to speak,” Jenkins said.
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Meanwhile, appointed District 4 Commissioner Mason said that the commission followed the law and chose him to fill the interim position properly.
“I didn’t ask for the job. I was asked to take over the position because of my experience, and it is my intention to serve the community as I did for eight years. If the voters in district four want someone else to serve, they can make that choice in the May election,” Mason said.
MORE: Opinion: Mason Hits the Ground Running as Replacement for Sias
Technically speaking, Sias was not removed from office by the governor, but rather suspended. This means that Sias is still considered a commissioner and receives pay through the county even though he is not allowed to participate in commission meetings or cast a vote.
Had Sias resigned upon being indicted, a special election would have been called. Mason questioned both Sias’ commitment to the community by not stepping down as well as the RCNA for not demanding that Sias step down and allow for a special election.
“Where were they when he was indicted? Why weren’t they demanding that he resign? That seat needed to be filled and the commission did its job to make sure that the people of the fourth district are represented until an election can be held,” Mason said.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com.
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