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Public commenter alleges ongoing litigation by Commissioner Damon Hoyte; Hoyte declines to answer
Summary
At the Aug. 6 meeting a local resident accused Commissioner Damon Hoyte of multiple court filings and an EEOC complaint, said litigation was costing the county, and said he planned to file an ethics complaint; Hoyte declined to answer some questions and later announced he would not resign.
During the public‑comment portion of the Aug. 6 meeting, local resident Steve Wagner asked a series of pointed questions about Commissioner Damon Hoyte’s legal activity and conduct.
Wagner asked whether Hoyte had pleaded guilty in magistrate court on Dec. 8, 2022, and said he had found multiple filings in magistrate and superior courts that, Wagner alleged, were being pursued on Hoyte’s behalf. Wagner told the commission he was preparing a complaint for the Georgia Ethics Commission and said the litigation was imposing costs on the county: “this is costing the county a significant amount of money … we would have to be the ones that have to pay,” Wagner said.
Hoyte declined to answer some questions on the record, and the county attorney reminded those present that commissioners are not required to respond to public questions. Wagner also asked about specific matters related to a manufactured home and moving‑company activity; Hoyte said he had been told of one damage report and that the mover reimbursed the resident.
At the conclusion of the meeting, after a closed session, Hoyte addressed the board and said he had once drafted a resignation letter after an election but ultimately did not submit it. “I am not going to resign,” Hoyte said, and told residents pressing for his removal to continue the process.
What happened next: The transcript shows the commenter said he would continue investigating and would forward an ethics complaint; the matter was not resolved at the meeting and no formal action (such as a referral or investigation by the commission) was announced in these segments.
Context and limits: The claims cited by Wagner were allegations made in the public‑comment period and were not adjudicated during the meeting. The commission’s records in these segments show no vote or disciplinary action stemming from the comments. The commission’s attorney advised that some matters discussed were not required to be answered publicly during the meeting.
