One of the first things I learned as a cub reporter is that while it is always good to have a rapport with a public figure, whether you like and support their policies or not, they are hardly ever the best source for information.
In the case of both senator and sheriff, superior court judges and city department heads, it is far better for the journalist to get to know and build friendly relationships with people at the bottom of the staff totem pole.
Not only are those folks easier to build up a relationship with, they are the ones who talk to everyone who calls the office or comes in for meetings, pick up little info tidbits at the coffee station, overhear things. They are also, generally, a good judge of character as well.
…And even though their name never surfaces after a quote, they know all the dirt.
One of the best sources I have ever had in my career sat just outside the office door of the city administrator.
Since she has gone on to her heavenly reward, I think Sarah has probably voided our NDA by now. She was former City Administrator Fred Russell’s secretary, Sarah Hudson; she manned the desk and ran the office and we developed a quick friendship, calling each other “kissin’ cousins” because we shared the same family surname.
When people would come in to see the administrator, I could tell from her demeanor of how she greeted them if she thought they were a “good egg” in her opinion. If she didn’t trust someone, she would shoot me a quick roll of her eyes, sometimes making me want to double over in laughter.
So, that is how I met Tameka Allen nearly 20 years ago, she happened to be in the office for some routine business with the administrator. Tameka was heavily pregnant at the time and Sarah nearly leaped up over her desk to give her a hug.
“Girl, you look like a toothpick that swallowed an olive,” Sarah said.
Of course, once Tameka had left, Sarah started spilling the tea.
Sarah told me that, as the then IT Director, Tameka was one of the “good eggs,” but she also stated that in no way would she ever want to be in Tameka’s shoes. When I asked why, this is what Sarah said while looking at me over her pink readers:
“Because she’s tall, she’s pretty and she’s smart… cursed three times, child.”
Over time, Tameka has risen through the ranks acting as deputy administrator and co-interim administrator and really could have assumed the administrator’s position years and years ago; however, she patiently handled being overlooked for the top job, learning lessons and tucking them away for the day when that experience may be needed.
You know, I think Sarah was right, Tameka was probably fully skilled to run the city way back when I first met her, but the city’s elected leaders, over and over, would not budge on allowing anyone they could not personally influence and even control occupy that seat.
The power structure in this town was intimidated by her. In her case, Tameka’s best outward and inward attributes must have felt to her like the proverbial albatross.
Over the years, I have probably had less than 10 conversations with Tameka, but she always remembered mine and everyone else’s name.
When the decision was made to finally promote Ms. Allen to permanent administrator, you could almost hear the sound of whiplash coming from the Marble Palace. I really am amazed that people were surprised that it “happened so quickly.”
Huh?!
One thing I have learned about Mayor Garnett Johnson is that he is not a bully, but a consensus builder; his mentality and demeanor make the bullies on the commission seem even more comical than they already are. Johnson has the perfect deadpan, incredulous look, but with that same underlying smirk that Lee Travino had on his face in the film “Happy Gilmore.”
No, the real bullies saw the next year’s budget fast approaching on the horizon. They were already stumbling through a dark tunnel when they realized the light in the distance was actually an oncoming train. Even Francine Scott knew the writing was on the wall, they needed Tameka Allen and her 30 years of experience.
Three days after the vote, the ultimate test on our government would come as we all got hit with the most destructive act of nature ever recorded in these parts.
I am told by the people in the trenches that Allen didn’t have to be told where she needed to be, she was already at the EMA Emergency Headquarters on the phone with everyone from GEMA and FEMA to Utilities Director Wes Byne and Engineering Director Hameed Malik.
Even though the above-ground infrastructure lay in disaster and knowing that a full-on water system failure could cause entire neighborhoods to look like a hurricane battered third-world country with overloaded pipes failing and bursting sewage, I am told that calm at EMA Headquarters prevailed.
Two contacts that Allen made immediately were with Abie Ladson and Steve Cassell; not only did these two men work alongside of her during the ice storm of 2014, but they practically designed the roadways and roundabouts, the traffic-light system and know where virtually all of the tree are planted…Okay, they know where most of them are planted.
The big story out of Augusta is really what did not happen. No one panicked, they just got to work.
Even the commissioners seemed to be breathing a massive sigh of relief at the emergency meeting held just after the stormy weekend. Allen came to the meeting poised and clearly in control. Unlike the usual practice of commissioners gamely trying to exert their influence by asking inane questions ad nauseum, every one of Allen’s requests of the body were passed with little discussion.
My friend Sarah always loved underdogs as much as she enjoyed ratting out the power-hungry ‘gargoyles,’ as she termed them and I am sure that she is smiling down on Augusta saying of our new administrator:
“She’s a lady and she is also a Mama who doesn’t need to carry a spatula in her purse on Sunday morning, just one look from her is all it takes.”
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
