Editors Note: Brandon Garrett reached to the Augusta Press after the publication of this story to say that he and his family spent his leave time at Adirondack Bible Chapel Ministry Center in New York. He also clarified that he applied for the supervisor of elections position in Burke County on March 10, after he returned to his commission seat.
The rumor mill leapt alive this week on the news that Augusta Commissioner Brandon Garrett had accepted a new position with the Burke County government, with many speculating that Garrett will be resigning his commission seat to relocate out of Richmond County.
When contacted by phone, Garrett seemed annoyed at getting requests for comment from the media and after stating that he would not be moving nor resigning his elected seat, he clammed up, refusing to answer any more questions.
“My family and I live in the house my wife’s grandfather built the year she was born. We aren’t moving unless God moves us,” Garrett answered by text.
When asked how long his tenure was with Azalea Outdoor Advertising, his last known employer, Garrett responded, “That was a private owned company and those details of my tenure can be obtained from them if they wish to divulge.”
MORE: Former Grovetown civil servant nominated for Trump administration
Minutes from the Jan. 14 meeting of the Burke County Commission show that the board voted unanimously to fill the vacant position of supervisor of elections.
An offer of employment letter released by Burke County confirms that in late March, Garrett was confirmed for the position at an annual salary of $80,014.37.
This timeline raises questions as to where Garrett has publicly said he was during the four months that he spent on a paid leave from the commission to address his “spiritual and mental health.”
In an emotional speech made upon his return to the commission on Feb. 25, Garrett told his colleagues and the general public that he had spent the time since his October announcement of a sabbatical at Christian retreat center out of state.
“As a family we spent the last four months in a remote faith-based residential counseling center in the wilderness of upstate New York. There I learned how my sins affected every aspect of my relationship with my family and the world around us but much more importantly with God,” Garrett said reading from a statement.
MORE: Local leaders sound off on election of Pope Leo XIV
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter, Editorial Page Editor and weekly columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
