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Residents accuse Jasper County leadership of improperly dismissing elections superintendent; callers demand reinstatement and investigation
Summary
Multiple residents told the Board that the Elections and Registration Superintendent was dismissed improperly in executive session and urged reinstatement, open-process remedies and a state (GBI) inquiry; one commenter said he would not leave until commissioners answered his questions and was escorted out by the sheriff.
At the Aug. 4 meeting of the Jasper County Board of Commissioners, several residents said the county violated the Georgia Open Meetings Act by dismissing the Elections and Registration Superintendent in executive session and urged the board to correct the process.
Sharon Kachur argued the dismissal was illegal and that the Open Meetings Act requires any disciplinary action that results in termination to occur in public after appropriate notice. "He was illegally dismissed," Kachur said, adding that executive session can discuss discipline but a public vote is required afterward when termination occurs.
James Belcher told commissioners the superintendent must be reinstated with back pay until a lawful public process occurs. "He must be reinstated immediately with backpay, salary, and benefits until such time he either resigns or is dismissed in an open public meeting," Belcher said, and he repeatedly demanded answers about how the Elections Board appointments are handled. When Belcher refused to sit down after his time expired, Sheriff Pope escorted him from the meeting.
Nate Hyland made broader allegations of misconduct involving law enforcement, the district attorney and the courts, and called for a Georgia Bureau of Investigation review and for commissioners to delay budget action or resign if they would not pursue investigation. "There was a conspiracy to cover up an aggravated assault," Hyland said, urging a GBI investigation.
Commissioners responded variably during public comment: Chairman Bruce Henry and Commissioner Asher Gray said they had replied to constituent emails; Commissioner Rob Alexander said he had limited availability while in the hospital in June but expressed support for nonpartisan board composition; Commissioner Ledford said he favored balanced representation by party and independent voices but noted appointment authority resides with the BOC.
What happens next: Commissioners did not take formal action on the dismissal during the meeting; the comments formalize public demands for review and for the BOC to clarify Elections Board appointment procedures.
