Columbia County District 2 Commissioner Trey Allen announced he will be resigning from his seat on the commission to take a senior role in the Trump Administration, calling it an “unexpected opportunity for myself and my family to serve my country that I simply could not turn down.”
Allen stated at the end of the Board of Commissioners’ (BOC) regular meeting, Tuesday night, that he has accepted an offer as Senior Advisor to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, telling his constituents that his new Washington appointment would prevent him from offering them the “level of district service that they deserve.”
“After deciding to accept the role, I reached out to counsel at the earliest opportunity to begin planning for the transition of the District 2 Commission seat,” said Allen, who was elected to his current BOC seat last year, a role in which he had served for more than a decade before his replacement by Don Skinner in 2021. “I have worked with legal and staff over the last few days to work through the process, and I believe that we’ve determined the best way forward. I therefore plan to submit my resignation to Gov. Kemp, creating a vacancy on the Board of Commissioners and allowing a call for my replacement.”
Allen went on to say that his decision to step down now was to save the county “time, trouble and money” in executing a special election in November that will “hopefully be implemented concurrently” with the coming Public Service Commission vote.
Earlier in the meeting Allen had made the motion that led to the BOC’s 3-2 to vote to approve the opening of a liquor store on Old South Belair Road.
The Planning Commission had unanimously voted to recommend denial of Malay Patel’s request for a conditional use permit allowing him to establish an 11,000-square-foot retail package store at 102 South Belair Rd.
Patel, the owner of Top Notch Liquor in Augusta, plans to build a 15,000 square foot retail space on the property, leasing out the other 5,000 square feet of space to a coffee shop and restaurant.
Former District 2 Commissioner Skinner attended the meaning to speak on behalf of a several residents — nearly one half of a packed auditorium — opposing the request, addressing Allen directly during his remarks before the board.
“That’s District 2, Trey, which is your district. We are elected to protect our district. In this case, we’re not,” said Skinner. “So I advise you to please rethink and vote ‘no’ for a liquor store. I don’t care about liquor stores in Columbia County. This is not the spot for it.”
Former planning commissioner Russell Wilder was among those representing the other side of the room in favor of the request, speaking highly of Patel’s character and the quality of his business in Richmond County.
Before making his motion in favor of the proposed package store, Allen disclosed that Patel is a personal friend and an insurance client his, quickly adding that Patel is not consulting his services for the store.
“He is a citizen of our community. He is a community partner. I know him to be a man of charitable means, charitable heart,” said Allen of Patel. “He’s just a good person. He’s just a man trying to make a legal living for his family.”
Commissioner Alison Couch, who seconded the motion, and Chairman Doug Duncan joined Allen in voting to approve Patel’s request, while Commissioners Connie Melear and Michael Carraway opposed.
Though he’ll be working in D.C., Allen will maintain a home and residency in Columbia County, he said.
“This will always be my home. Serving as a Columbia County Commissioner has been one of the greatest honors of my life, while I look forward to the challenges for me. I will miss this role terribly,” Allen said. “I will miss the people most, my fellow Commissioners, the staff, and the citizens, all of whom make Columbia County the greatest place I know of live and raise a family. I have filled this seat on and off for over 15 years, and I hope that in some small part, I helped improve your lives, but I know without question, you have made mine better than I could ever wish for. Thank you for the privilege of letting me serve you. Godspeed, Columbia County, and thank you.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
