Dear Editor,
Augusta, we have a problem. It appears that after stifling Augustans, many of whom are low-income, out of $6.5 million, Hawthorne Welcher remains on paid leave.
My first question is why?
My second question, is would this same failure by our local government to move forward with a formal dismissal of Welcher be afforded to someone who does not have the benefit of a “divine” social safety net?
Historically speaking, it appears not. And that is a problem.
Commenting on a recent Augusta Press article written by Scott Hudson, former commissioner Moses Todd questioned why Commissioner Catherine Smith-Rice is not calling for an FBI investigation into where those federal taxpayer dollars went. To Commissioner Smith-Rice’s credit, she did call for Welcher to be fired without severance pay; that no offer of a golden parachute be afforded him, effective immediately.
Todd also reminded us that Commissioner Brandon Garrett called for an FBI investigation of former commissioner Sammie Sias over Sias’ misappropriation of taxpayer funds. That call led to Sias being sentenced to serve time in a federal prison.
So, what is the difference here? Why has a formal FBI investigation into how those federal taxpayer dollars were spent not been called upon?
One can argue that Welcher not being held accountable to the fullest is the result of Welcher’s protection coming from his social status within a “divine” social safety net. If that is true, then Augusta, we have a problem.
This is not a Black or White, Republican or Democrat, issue. Here we have $6.5 million that were allocated to a department of our local government for disbursement to Augustans desperately in need of financial assistance during COVID. And these Augustans were given the middle finger.
But now the smoke has cleared, and Augustans want answers.
By the way, who is paying Welcher’s salary while he is on paid leave? Is it Augusta taxpayers? Is it the same people who knew not that the U.S. Treasury Department sent funds down to Augusta, Ga. to help those who were in financial need get through the COVID crisis?
If so, then our current government is doing the citizens of Augusta a huge disservice, and that calls for a shakeup, or shakedown.
Therefore, we, a few concerned citizens of Augusta-Richmond County, are calling on the commission to hold a vote on Welcher’s future; that he not be allowed to resign; that the recommendation of Commissioner Smith-Rice be adopted and executed.
We are also requesting that the votes of each commissioner, as it relates to Welcher’s formal dismissal, be made public. And that any commissioner who votes against the formal dismissal of Welcher be compelled to tell his or her constituents “why” he or she voted against dismissing someone who has somehow lost $6.5 million that belonged to the citizens of Augusta. If that commissioner refuses to answer his or her constituents, then that commissioner should be relieved of his or her duties at the next election cycle.
Look, I love the term “divine.” It denotes a high state of godliness. A state of character not to be questioned. However, even our Almighty Creator held each of the major scriptural men and women accountable.
True story:
This past Tuesday, after finishing my overnight shift, I painstakingly spent money for a rental car so I could drive down to Statesboro to speak to a State Court judge as to why my 17-year-old daughter should not serve 10 days in jail for driving less safe when leaving her senior prom after-party. The statement I gave was so poignant that not only did the judge deviate greatly from the state’s recommendation, but the solicitor who was prosecuting my daughter went to her and offered an apology, then came to me and did the same.
When making that statement, I did not request the judge not hold my own daughter accountable. No, she needed a learning moment. Rather, I requested the judge allow her to make her high school graduation, which is less than 30 days away, and if there is any jail time, allow her to serve it on weekends so we can start preparing her for college. The judge agreed and gave her one weekend in jail. We thanked the judge and left.
You see, just because I feel a duty to protect my daughter does not mean that I should allow her to get away with putting her life and the lives of others in danger. She attended her senior prom after-party, things happened, she should have let someone else drive.
The same applies to Welcher. The “divine” social safety net may feel a duty to protect him. However, in doing so many of them are shirking their duty to the common people of Augusta.
Six and a half million dollars are missing, folks. That money was supposed to go to distressed Augustans. Yet, it came up missing. And one of those most baffling aspects of the whole debacle is that many Augustans who qualified for portions of that allocation never knew it was here.
To our local government: Hold That Young Man Accountable!
Law A. Brannen
Founder/Director, The Justice-Impacted Reformation Society Inc. (JIRSI)
