(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column of those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
If you missed the article in TAP this past weekend you need to go back and take a glance.
Wondering which article am I referring to? The article about the statute—we must have a special election for tax commissioner.
This drew tons of comments from readers and even more talk throughout the community.
While this entire column will not be about elections, we must address the elephant in the room: the speculations surrounding November’s general election.
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The favorite for this race coming out the gate of course will be sitting Tax Commissioner, T. Chris Johnson. He has spent the last several years as the deputy tax commissioner and was placed in that seat after then-Tax Commissioner Steven Kendrick resigned to run for Mayor.
We all know how that story went. TAP played out every aspect for the community, so there’s no need to rehash all of that.
What I will say is, Johnson did catch quite a bit of heat after he was placed into the seat and the city had to pay him a severance package.
Please understand my words here, —“had to.”
The commission created that rule that has since been done away with. So to be fair to Johnson, that was not something he created.
However, he seems to the be the one who will be penalized for it. That entire course of events is still quite a bit to understand, and I look forward to speaking with Chris Johnson about it in more in detail.
Monday the Board of Elections held a meeting to discuss adding this special election to the November ballot. Which means there will be no time for a Primary Election. Anyone, and everyone interested can run without party affiliation. They would just put their name on the ballot and place a D or an R next to it so voters can make their own decision.
Even before that announcement, we had some names being circulated, and I made mention of some of them. Charlie Hannah was one name that immediately came out, and I was told he has stated he would be running.
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I reached out to verify this with Hannah and he texted me back this statement, and I quote: “Because of my taxation, business, and public service experience for Richmond County, I am in the exploration stage. I have to decide whether to defend my current post on the School Board or to seek the role of tax commissioner. The level of support that can be certain will be the determining factor in my decision. In the end, no matter which role I seek, the mission remains to be an honorable and results-oriented servant for Richmond County.”
Another—I would say a local celebrity—name was mentioned. This is a name everyone in town knows. For the most part, I have never heard a bad thing about him. He is considering a run for the seat; however, it would mean a major shift in jobs and I just don’t know if the city could handle now getting “certain information” from him on a daily basis. Let me stress the fact that name recognition would not be an issue for this person.
Then as the the weekend continued, two other names popped up—current Commissioner Bobby Williams and Former Commisssioner Corey Johnson. Both who are well aware of the possibility of a November special election, and who at least pondered the idea of a run.
Corey stated several people had asked, but he was not sure if he would run. Then he tried to sell me some insurance. Mr. Johnson has opened up an Allstate Agency to rival his already successful contracting company.
Commisssioner Williams’ answer was a little more researched as he talked to me about the possibility of him being tax commissioner. He said his time spent so far as a county Commisssioner has opened some different possibilities. His monthly breakfast’s have been a great communication piece in keeping the community informed, and he feels this is what would be needed in the Tax Commissioner’s Office as well.
There’s one more person I’m hearing who may be considering it. Let’s just say this. If he does, then EVERYBODY else that’s even thinking about running should not even qualify.
Speaking of being in the hot seat or getting out of one…
The Burke County sheriff sent in his report basically stating that his office could not find any criminal wrongdoing in reference to the case of the 4 year old who drowned during his second day of swimming lessons.
Let me continue this statement by saying that I could never, ever imagine how that mother, father and family feels.
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I also couldn’t imagine how that swim instructor must feel. This was one of those things where it really galvanized this community—mostly negatively—and probably brought everyone to tears for at least a moment.
The case is now in the hands of the Augusta DA. I will say this for all those who are fighting for this swim instructor to be found innocent or let go: those who want to say she has been a great person for all these years, and that she has done so many wonderful things. I don’t doubt it, and I believe she is exactly who everyone that has something positive to say is making her out to be.
I’m a columnist l, so I will make this remark. If, and when the DA decides to do something in reference to this swim instructor, and the charges are what some may seem harsh or rough, remember you told him to go after the bad guys and to stop letting people slide.
That’s about all I have to say about that.
Last thing.
I heard someone pretty close to me make a comment about “all that My Brother’s Keeper money being spent.” Why wasn’t a mirror brought in so maybe some people could see who the real problems are?
I can remember my Grandpa saying “mirrors are not just for reflections but corrections too.”
Which leads me to a story I told just this past Sunday in my sermon.
There was a husband who went to the doctor on behalf of his wife. He says, “Doc, my wife has a hearing problem. She can’t hear well. I can be talking to her, screaming across the room, and she doesn’t hear.”
The doctor said, “Okay, well, I’ll tell you what. Let’s set an appointment. You bring her in next week. But between now and next week, I want you to run a test.”
“Doc, what’s the test?”, the husband asked.
Doc says, “Stand 15 feet away, and when she’s cooking, ask her what she’s cooking. If she doesn’t answer, then go 10 feet away and ask her what she’s cooking. If she doesn’t answer, go 5 feet away and ask her what she’s cooking. If she still doesn’t answer, go right up to her ear and shout in her ear, “WHAT ARE YOU COOKING?” to see whether she answers then because that’ll give me a measurement of how many feet it takes before she’s hearing.”
The husband says, “Okay, I’ll do it.”
He went home and stood 15 feet away, “Dear, what are you cooking?”
Nothing.
He stands 10 feet away, “Dear, what are you cooking?”
Nothing.
He stands five feet away, “Dear, what are you cooking?”
Nothing.
He goes right up to her ear, “DEAR, WHAT ARE YOU COOKING?”
She says, “For the fourth time, vegetable stew!”
See, the problem may just be you. But here I go, getting ahead of myself again…
Michael Meyers is a columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com
