Some Augusta residents are still stewing over the appointment of Alvin Mason to fill the District 4 commission seat vacated by the removal of indicted Commissioner Sammie Sias.
Folks lobbying for other potential appointees said commissioners should have heard from the District 4 community about whom they wanted to represent them. Maybe so, but that’s not required. There is no procedure or protocol for filling a vacant seat except that there be one and there be six votes to fill it.
District 4 voters elected Mason twice to represent them. If he runs for the seat again next year, the residents will have total say-so over who’ll represent them for the next four years.
A Timely Question
Meanwhile, Mason hit the ground running at his first commission meeting, asking whether there was any difference in cigar and cigarette smoke during a discussion of amending the city’s smoking ordinance to allow cigar bars to open in Augusta.
For Dr. Martha Tingen, an associate director at the Georgia Cancer Center at MCG, who was there to speak against cigar bars, it was meant for Mason to ask that question.
“I want you to know that one single large cigar has as much tobacco and toxic products as an entire pack of cigarettes,” she said. “So, the answer to your question is it’s not any difference. It’s worse.”
Joe Camel’s Nose Back Under the Tent
Nevertheless, commissioners voted to amend the ordinance at that Sept. 7, meeting to make it possible for cigar bars to operate. But they failed to approve two companion items needed to complete the process.
The amendment commissioners approved is back on Tuesday’s regular commission meeting agenda for a second reading and vote. If approved, cigar bar proponents likely will push for commission approval of the two companion items at later meetings. But before anything else happens, two more members of Augusta’s medical community will speak against amending the ordinance.
Augusta University Pediatrics Specialist Dr. Courtney Widjaja and Family Medicine Specialist Dr. Kim Thompson are scheduled to speak in opposition.
[adrotate banner=”19″]
An Unusual Request, and the Answer is No
Mason also spoke out during last Tuesday’s Engineering Services committee meeting when William Quackenbush asked commissioners for permission to hunt on city property in the Phinizy Swamp area near the old bait shop.
Quackenbush, a bowhunter, said he wanted to hunt deer and wild hogs there.
City Administrator Odie Donald voiced several concerns about granting Quackenbush’s request, such as how the city would regulate hunting. He asked for 30 days to research the matter.
“And I would hope in your research and investigation, we ensure we’re not opening up a Pandora’s Box here,” Mason said. “Is there hunting going on currently, and if so, in what capacity are we talking about. Rifles? Are we talking bow hunting. What are we talking? That would be important to know. What is already existing out there so we could make a good decision.”
Mason also placed an item on the Public Services committee meeting agenda to discuss agreements the city has with non-governmental agencies that operate city-owned recreation centers, such as Jamestown Community Center.
As you probably know, Jamestown was the fiefdom of Sias before his spurned lover spilled the beans on him in writing to commissioners. Willa Hilton alleged in her letter that Sias spent the center’s, as well as SPLOST, money like it was his own, never submitted receipts for expenditures among other illegal activities, prompting commissioners to call in the GBI to investigate. Shortly thereafter, the FBI seized records from Sias’ residence. He was later indicted on federal charges of destroying government documents and lying to investigators.
Mason said he wanted to have the discussion about the community centers, so commissioners could figure out the best way to move forward.
Administrator Donald said he was definitely prepared to bring the centers back under the city’s purview but cautioned them about the timing because they would need transition time to close out their books.
The three community centers operated by non-governmental agencies are East View, Jamestown and W.T. Johnson.
“Have we seen any issues at these centers that would cause us to want to change them back under city control outside of ….,” Commissioner Jordan Johnson asked before everybody started laughing. “Let me rephrase my question.”
Donald intervened in an effort to make lemonade out of lemons again.
“In lieu of saying the challenges we’ve had, it would be moreso be the preference is to have more direct control over that service delivery and administration; then these are three opportunities of low hanging fruit to be able to do so, again not a mandatory piece, but we’ll be prepared to deliver that service,” he said.
They must be paying Donald by the word. It must be like Scrabble. He gets a certain amount for each word, depending on the number of letters. And if he can include Z’s, X’s and Y’s in the words, he probably gets paid extra.
Anyway, Donald said he would return with a proposal for the centers in two weeks.
[adrotate banner=”13″]
More Hats in the Ring
Last week, I began drawing the names of mayoral candidates out of a hat and writing about them until I got writer’s cramp and promised to do the rest this week. So here goes.
Robert Ingham
Robert Ingham at age 75 is what you might call a perennial candidate. He’s run for office as a Democrat 11 times.
“Eight times on the ballot,” he said.
Three of the times he announced he’d run, he ended up not qualifying.
He was on the ballot for a seat on the Richmond County Board of Education three times; the Augusta Commission twice; for the state Legislature once; and for Congress twice, once as a write-in candidate.
In a 2010 interview, Ingham said, “It’s just a weak point that I’m not able to get elected.”
Ingham is a Vietnam veteran and the owner of Ingham Tax and Financial Service since 1974. He is also a substitute teacher in Richmond County and Burke County school systems.
He said he’d like to be mayor of Augusta to be a public servant to the people of Richmond County and build on the accomplishments of past mayors.
As for his chances of becoming mayor, he said he went to school in Richmond County, has been in business here and has been involved in many community and political organizations, which should help him at election time.
Ingham is obviously a great candidate for any office. It seems to be the public view that he is, in fact, a great candidate, and that his best service to the community is just being on the ballot.
Charlie Hannah
The next name out of the hat is Charlie Hannah, president of the Richmond County School Board.
“I just think Augusta needs my type of leadership,” Hannah said. “I’m progressive. I get so frustrated by our unwillingness to be good stewards to the people of Augusta. Let’s be open. Let’s be honest, and let’s be bold.
“It’s just like with the school system. We have problems. Let’s be honest and say, ‘Let’s be honest. These are the problems. Let’s see how we can solve them.’
“I believe I can take Augusta to the next level or at least start the process of moving Augusta into the future.”
As for his chances of winning the mayor’s race, Hannah said his chances are above average.
“My chances are very good,” he said. “I actually have a resume of accomplishments to stand on. I came from the bottom, and the Lord has given me a lot of opportunities to where I’ve been able to make a difference.”
If elected mayor, Hannah would strive for the commission to have a solid relationship with the school system.
“I think we can govern better together than we can divided,” he said.
[adrotate banner=”54″]
Hannah is a photographer and owns a maintenance operations and appliance repair shop that his son mostly runs now, he said.
Hannah is also a paralegal with a concentration in control drafting and income-tax litigation.
He also has been a foster parent for 19 years and has raised 53 boys and one girl.
“One of my boys got a full-ride baseball scholarship,” he said. “Three made it to college and graduated. Every child deserves a chance. Some come from tragic backgrounds. Some just need to be with a different person.”
He continued, “Three of my boys went to prison. Two got degrees in culinary arts while there, and they are doing great.”
Hannah has continued his education online and in person throughout his adult life. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Legal Services from the National Paralegal College; a masters degree in Business Administration from McArthur College; a diploma in Electrical Construction from Augusta Tech and a masters degree on Tax Law from the National Juris University.
While Hannah wants to lead Augusta to the future, I hope he realizes that the future will come no matter who’s leading.
Dennis Williams
Augusta Commissioner Dennis Williams said he’s running for mayor because he believes he can do a very good job at promoting and selling the city.
“And I believe I can get people to work together for a greater Augusta,” he said. “And I have a good reputation of being active in the community and active in responding to constituents. I’m as good as anybody else. And my career has given me the ability to analyze and make good, sound decisions. The only stumbling block is I’m not a hometown boy.”
Williams retired from the Veterans Administration after 29 years. He also served 12 years in the U.S. Army.
He’s single with one daughter and one grandson. And he likes cooking and gardening.
I wonder how he will feel after he wakes up from dreaming.
Brian Marcus
Here’s the last name in the hat, Brian Marcus.
Marcus says he is a music artist, rapper, R&B singer, songwriter, gospel singer and producer, with a new song already wrapped up, as well as a phlebotomist. Running for mayor has been his aspiration since high school where he was good in history, he said.
“I try to catch the news every day,” he said. “I see they’re shutting down the strip clubs. I’m not in agreeance with that. They’ve been in business for a long time. If they relocate, I would be for it.”
Marcus said his arrest following a fight with a Richmond County deputy at a service station on Washington Road in July wasn’t his fault. It was a situation over a gasoline purchase that got out of hand and ended up with him fighting with a deputy and being tased. He was taken to jail and charged with felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
He said he’s been waiting on a court date and trying to get a public defender. Meanwhile, he just started working in the hospitality industry.
As mayor, he would focus on collaborating with surrounding counties to create more job opportunities, road improvements and building another mall at the old Regency Mall site. He also thinks the James Brown Arena should be renovated and seemed surprised when I told him the city is well into plans to build a new $240 million arena.
“That’s ridiculous,” he said.
Marcus attended Aiken Technical College and Georgia Southern University for two years until he got on academic probation and then transferred to Savannah State University and graduated with a business administration degree, he said.
Does everybody know the old saying, “Last but not least?” It’s not true in this case.
Sylvia Cooper is a Columnist with The Augusta Press. Reach her at sylvia.cooper@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”51″]
