Commission appoints Sheila Wilson to Tax Assessor post despite ethics concern from chairman

The Commission of the Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County voted July 1 to appoint Sheila Wilson to Post 2 on the county Board of Tax Assessors for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2025.

Commissioner Gerald Douglas moved to approve Ms. Wilson's appointment; Commissioner Timothy Biddle seconded. After a motion to table by Commissioner Damon Hoyte failed for lack of a second, the commission approved the appointment with Hoyte voting no and the others voting in favor.

Chairman Charles Coffey raised an ethics concern on the record during the discussion, saying that Commissioner Hoyte was suing Ms. Wilson and two other citizens and warning that Hoyte's participation in decisions involving a person he is litigating could create a conflict. "Commissioner Hoyte, you are suing Ms. Sheila Wilson," Coffey said, noting the issue for the public record. Commissioner Hoyte responded by noting past appointment processes and applicants; he moved to table the appointment but the motion received no second.

County Manager Thomas Weaver and County Clerk Lisa Bickel confirmed multiple applicants had submitted materials for the vacancy, including Latrese Brown and Elizabeth DeMunn, and that the vacancy had been open for about two years. The commission voted to appoint Ms. Wilson and asked staff to thank other applicants for their interest.

Why this matters: Board of Tax Assessors members set valuations that determine local property-tax bills and hear appeals. Appointments to that board can therefore raise public interest in fairness and process. The commission recorded the appointment and the ethics concern on the public minutes, and the new term is recorded as July 1, 2025'July 1, 2029.

What's next: The commission did not take additional action on the ethics question during the meeting; any formal ethics review or recusal request was not recorded.