Editor’s note: Sylvia Cooper has been out this week with COVID-19, so she did not write a column. She’s doing fine, just dealing with COVID fatigue and lingering symptoms. She hopes to be back in the saddle for next week’s column. In the meantime, Augusta Press Publisher Joe Edge has stepped in to offer his thoughts.
I am not Sylvia Cooper, nor do I pretend to be. Due to her infection with COVID-19, Sylvia is unable to write her column this week, which I know is very disappointing to all of our readers, myself included. Her absence left a huge hole in today’s paper, so I thought I would attempt a column myself. I suspect my column will make readers long for Sylvia’s return next week.
So, first off, I’ll continue Sylvia’s countdown: King Hardie Davis has 132 days left in his mayoral reign of terror on Augusta.
MORE: Sylvia Cooper: Davis term comes to a close; Sias appeals; Augusta Commission in limbo
If it’s not broken – break it and put it back together with more bureaucracy
Takiyah Douse has done a fine job filling in as city administrator after Odie Donald II went up a rung on his career ladder. So, I’m wondering why the rush to replace her? Over the past week, three people have proposed the same scenario to me, which I find too fascinating not to share. If this putative backroom deal-making is really happening, it should alarm all residents of Richmond County.
The first deal I heard about has former mayoral-hopeful Steven Kendrick being named city administrator. This rumor makes sense when you think about Kendrick’s advancement trajectory in local government. Nobody believed he would stay in the tax commissioner’s office long. Hiring Kendrick as city administrator, though, would have to be done before a new administration takes office.
The second rumored deal is that Kendrick would hire Hardie Davis Jr. as the city’s lobbyist. This would enable Davis to continue his penchant for travel on the city’s dime. If Davis were to get hired for this position, we’d need to keep an eye on his spending for travel and other expenses.
Perhaps, if this scenario comes to fruition, both Davis and Kendrick will even get their own private consultants to do their jobs for them. After all, the city just approved hiring a consultant for for Parks and Recreation Director Maurice McDowell.
MORE: Sylvia Cooper: Davis shares recent work on gun violence with commission
The king is ‘All Shook Up’ but might soon be singing ‘Jailhouse Rock’
I attended two court hearings this past Friday and watched Davis lose both. The first loss was over his refusal to comply with the open records act, and the second was related to his divorce.
In the first hearing, which was based on a lawsuit brought by The Augusta Press, it became very clear early on that the case was cut and dry, and Davis would lose his battle against the first amendment. The judge ruled that Davis must produce the requested documents that Davis has been holding on to for months.
Oh, how the mighty king has fallen since he was running for office and campaigned on a platform of openness and transparency, especially since the newspaper was only asking for receipts to show how he spent a small amount of money.
Davis is still under investigation by the Georgia Ethics Commission. During the investigation into his misuse of campaign funds, Davis responded under oath that certain expenditures were used in the official capacity of his elected office. Investigators gave him a pass on producing receipts that would show how those funds were spent for private-turned-public money. After all, once Davis made that written statement, the invoices for those charges became public records. The judge in the case agreed.
MORE: Sylvia Cooper: Sias trial shows if you strut like a peacock, you can get plucked like one
Davis never expected the press to request receipts on those city purchases he says were covered by campaign moneys – they weren’t city funds, after all. If it turns out those expenditures were not part of his capacity in his elected office, the mayor could be guilty of lying to the state investigators.
The mayor’s lawyer quickly indicated they would appeal the judge’s ruling — knowing that would drag the matter out for months. This could potentially allow Davis to get though the next ethics commission hearing without proof that he, in fact, lied under oath. By the time the appeal is complete, Davis will be out of office, and it’s possible the state ethics investigation will have ended.
Following that loss, Davis had to face his soon-to-be ex-wife in a hearing that happened only minutes after the first one and just a few doors down the hall.
I am thankful I have never had to go to divorce court. Divorce is always painful for both parties, and I honestly sympathize with both Mr. and Mrs. Davis for having to go through the process of dismantling a marriage. Watching the hearing, however, was both interesting and educational. Let me pause here and say that I am very thankful for my beautiful, amazing, selfless, patient, long-suffering, intelligent, wonderful, magnificent wife of nearly 20 years.
Mrs. Davis’ lawyer contended that the mayor has not disclosed certain assets the couple has and that he has hidden funds and assets. The mayor’s lawyer was pushing for depositions of Mrs. Davis to move forward without everyone first knowing what assets were to be involved. Basically, Hardie Davis wants to force his wife to testify under oath on what she knows he has or doesn’t have before he provides any more documentation. The judge ruled this was unfair to Mrs. Davis.
MORE: Sylvia Cooper: Commissioners travel to Colorado for continuing education
The most interesting part was when the judge very pointedly stated that if either party failed to disclose something and lied under oath, they could be found in contempt. The judge admitted the penalty is pretty lax and only could result in 30 days in the county jail. Hardie’s lawyer quickly corrected the judge that the penalty was 20 days in jail. I accidently laughed out loud at that exchange, as did others in the gallery with me. You see, it was painfully clear that Hardie and his lawyer knew what the law was on this.
In one of the strangest moments of the week outside of court, Davis called out The Augusta Press in a commission meeting. While people have told me he has done this before, I have never seen it with my own eyes until this week. It was very bizarre and random. Someone wisely commented online that The Augusta Press has been living rent free in Hardie’s mind for the last year and half.
I guess that’s true. I bumped into Mrs. Davis leaving the courthouse and exchanged pleasantries. Neither of us had anything substantive to say. But I would be remiss if I didn’t say that as we were leaving, Mrs. Davis pointed to Mr, Davis and said, “Oh, he is taking our picture.” I then said goodbye to her and went up to Davis and took his picture. He did not like that one bit.
Richmond County needs a tax increase
That’s right I said it. Property taxes need to go up. Before you grab your pitchfork, hear my train of thought as it relates to storm water.
Storm water has been a farce from day one. It’s a program designed to fool the citizens of Augusta and to divert attention away from local government’s misuse of funds. The ugly truth is that the storm water infrastructure is crumbling and has been for decades. Funds to maintain and upgrade the infrastructure were not properly set aside.
Enter the storm water fee. Make no mistake about this: Storm water is a tax, not a fee. It is not a utility. It is a tax. Period.
MORE: Sylvia Cooper: Augusta Commission examines multiple cans of worms
Instead of charging a storm water fee/utility/tax that all Richmond County residents pay, the county should increase property taxes. The increase should be equal to what is being charged in storm water fees. The county could still allocate the funds to storm water projects. Doing so would allow the dollars to be spent in the areas that actually have storm water infrastructure. Under this plan, those who have no storm water infrastructure wouldn’t pay for it.
The reason the county won’t do this is that it’s unpopular to raise property taxes. But we are already paying it. At least what I am proposing would benefit those who are paying for the service. It is unfair for a property owner in Hephzibah with no storm water infrastructure to pay for a new storm water project downtown. Just like a property owner downtown shouldn’t pay for streetlights in Hephzibah.
That really isn’t the reason the county won’t implement this change. It makes too much sense and is fair to everyone instead of a select few, which is standard operating procedure, it seems, these days.
Joe Edge is the publisher of The Augusta Press. Reach him at joe.edge@theaugustapress.com
