Augusta mayoral candidate Steven Kendrick said come Friday he will no longer be on the payroll of the Richmond County Tax Commissioner office.
Kendrick said he will either resign or take unpaid administrative leave after questions were raised about his new position at the tax office.
Kendrick was the elected Richmond County tax commissioner. By state law, he had to resign his elected position when he qualified as an official candidate in the upcoming Augusta mayor’s race. Kendrick sent his letter of resignation to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on March 8.
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Chief deputy Chris Johnson became the tax commissioner, as is prescribed by state law, said Richmond County Board of Elections Executive Director Travis Doss. But then Johnson appointed Kendrick to be the chief deputy. State law gives Johnson the power to appoint his chief deputy.
“I don’t think that’s right. They kind of swapped jobs,” said Marion Williams, another Augusta mayoral candidate.
Garnett Johnson, also an Augusta mayoral candidate, said he was surprised Kendrick had become the chief deputy at the tax office.
“Wow. You know, I can’t imagine that,” Garnett Johnson said. Then he said he didn’t want to comment further about the issue and wanted to concentrate on his campaign.
Early Tuesday afternoon, Kendrick said it isn’t uncommon for county employees to retain their jobs as they seek election. And Georgia law supports that position. It isn’t unheard of for sheriff deputies, for example, to run against their boss, the elected sheriff, and hold their county job during the election.
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“There’s no prohibition against being a county employee and running for office,” Kendrick said outside the tax commission office during an interview.
Kendrick added that he had put information about his new position on the tax commission website in the spirit of transparency.
“That’s the only thing of value I have is my good name,” Kendrick said.
A few hours later, Kendrick called and said because questions had been raised about the issue, he decided he would either resign or take administrative leave. He would volunteer to help Johnson with any issues the new tax commissioner may have. Kendrick said Chris Johnson could appoint a new deputy chief if Kendrick resigns.
“I don’t want people to be distracted,” Kendrick said.
Joshua B. Good is a staff reporter covering Columbia County and military/veterans’ issues for The Augusta Press. Reach him at joshua@theaugustapress.com
