One of the Augusta Commission’s new faces took his oath of office Monday.
Don Clark, a retired Army telecommunications chief, unseated Commissioner Bobby Williams May 21 to represent District 5 on the commission.
Clark received a stamp of approval from Mayor Garnett Johnson, former Commissioner Corey Johnson, Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle and CSRA Alliance for Fort Eisenhower Executive Director Tom Clark at the oath ceremony.
Tom Clark, who served as master of ceremonies, said Don Clark has “a servant’s heart” while being “wicked smart and strong as an ox.”
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Corey Johnson, who previously served two terms, said being commissioner means taking “a lot of flak, a lot of grief,” including for things outside a commissioner’s control.
But “Don’s going to do a great job,” Johnson said. “He’s such a humble guy.”
Guilfoyle said throughout Clark’s campaign, his family was beside him.
“You cannot do this position without having your spouse supporting you,” Guilfoyle said.
Clark’s oldest child, Destiny Clark, was two days old when her father left for his first deployment. She tearfully spoke of his encouragement, the hard work he put into winning the commission seat and more.
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Richmond County State Court Judge Monique Walker, who administered the oath, called Clark “a true leader in every way” with a high level of emotional intelligence.
“Thank you for the gift of honesty and friendship, and I can’t wait to watch you work,” she said.
Walker’s father, former state Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker, was on the program to speak Monday but had lost his voice, his daughter said.
“To God be the glory,” Clark said before thanking those in attendance, with special thanks to his wife, Tasha, and family members.
“It is my immense pleasure and absolute honor to serve this county,” Clark said, “to serve the people, but more importantly, to have the energy, the motivation and the direction to try to be a part of the change that our community desires and looks forward to.”
He drew laughs with the story of being mistaken for Sheriff-elect Gino Brantley and Brantley for him, despite their dissimilar appearances.
“Since the election there’s not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t have a full blown conversation with me,” saying, “So glad you are going to lead the sheriff’s office,” Clark said.
Clark said he was committed to working together to improve Augusta.
“I want you all to understand that I’m coming forward with an openness, an inclusivity,” he said. Through that openness, there can be “a consolidated group of people working to thrive, to establish a happy way of life, a beautiful community we all can be proud of.”
