The Indictment: Corruption on the Council
Romona Jackson and Henry Mitchell, two members of the Douglas County Commission, were indicted on allegations of steering a county cleaning contract to a political supporter. In addition to the corruption charges, Jackson is also accused of lying to GBI agents during the investigation.
According to prosecutors, Chairman Romona Jones, Councilmember Henry Mitchell, Tax Commissioner Greg Baker, and former Purchasing Director Bill Peacock stand accused of making promises to award a contract to S & A Express. The janitorial company is owned by Anthony Knight, who is also implicated in the indictment. The allegations state that Knight missed the initial bid submission window and requested a second opportunity to submit bids. However, when he missed that window as well, the defendants reviewed all the bids and still accepted Knight’s late submission, which matched the lowest bid that had been submitted on time.
All five are now facing charges of conspiracy in restraint of free and open competition in transactions. Additionally, Chairman Romona Jones is also charged with lying to the GBI.
Following their indictments, Romona Jackson and Henry Mitchell chose not to step down from their council seats, opting to continue working and even holding public meetings. The ongoing presence of Jackson and Mitchell in their council roles created a charged environment, characterized by heated exchanges and calls for resignation.
Then, on April 5th of this year, Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order to suspend Romona Jackson Jones and Henry Mitchell, five years after the alleged crime was committed. This decision followed a recommendation from a review committee consisting of commissioners representing various jurisdictions from around the state. It is worth noting that the suspensions were announced while both officials were on Spring Break, adding an element of silliness to the unfolding situation.
The Replacements
After all the scandal and subsequent suspensions, Governor Brian Kemp has now appointed retired Sheriff Phil Miller to replace Chairman Romona Jackson Jones and Navy veteran turned high school teacher Ricky Dobbs to take over for Commissioner Henry Mitchell. Miller and Dobbs are expected to fill these roles temporarily until the resolution of the criminal cases, or a special election can be held in the event of a conviction.
Interestingly, both Miller and Dobbs have kept their political affiliations relatively low-key. While sheriffs run in nonpartisan races, making Miller’s political leanings less apparent, Dobbs has declined to publicly disclose his party affiliation until absolutely necessary. Yet, speculation is rife, suggesting that they are likely Republicans.
The Implication: A Potential Shift in Power
Given these appointments, what was previously a Democratic stronghold in the Douglas County Council may now have a Republican majority. The fallout from the indictment of Jackson and Mitchell seems to have paved the way for an unexpected shift in the political landscape of Douglas County.
This corruption scandal within the Douglas County Commission has led to not just legal consequences for the indicted members, but also potentially significant political ramifications for the county. As Miller and Dobbs step into their temporary roles, all eyes will be on how this shift impacts the Commission’s decision-making and the overall governance of Douglas County.
However, one question remains: will the temporary positions of Phil Miller and Ricky Dobbs truly be temporary? Dobbs, in particular, has shown political aspirations, even expressing his intention to run for president in 2040 and calling himself “Future US President” in his Instagram bio. With Dobbs stating that he will only disclose his party affiliation “when I have to,” that suggests he sees a future where his name appears on a partisan ballot line, indicating a potential shift towards more permanent political ambitions.
