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Resident urges ethics review, questions Commissioner Hoyte's legal filings
Summary
At the Aug. 6 meeting resident Steve Wagner alleged Commissioner Damon Hoyte has filed multiple court actions against the county and urged an ethics review and resignation; Hoyte declined to answer some questions and later said he will not resign.
Steve Wagner, a local resident who said he has "over 35 years background in law enforcement and criminal justice," used the Aug. 6 public-comment period to raise concerns about Commissioner Damon Hoyte and to request an ethics review.
Wagner told the commission that, based on records he had reviewed, Hoyte had filed several motions in magistrate and superior courts and that an EEOC complaint was pending against the county related to the matter. Wagner said he believes those legal actions are imposing costs on the county and could affect county employees. "I voted for Mr. Hoyte," Wagner said during his remarks, adding that he would continue collecting records and forward a complaint to the Georgia Ethics Commission.
When Wagner asked Hoyte directly about a Dec. 8, 2022 plea and other filings, Hoyte declined to answer some questions during the public comment period; the county attorney reminded the public that commissioners are not required to answer such questions during public comment. Later in the meeting, after executive session, Hoyte told the board he had considered resigning after the election but ultimately decided not to. He said, "he threw it out, and he is not going to resign, SO to the people that want him to resign please continue the process, he is on the stadium bench."
The commission did not take formal action on Wagner's allegations during the meeting. The county attorney noted that legal and personnel matters were discussed in executive session and that no votes were taken while in closed session.
Why it matters: Wagner—s allegations raise questions about potential legal costs and ethical oversight for elected officials. The claims were presented as citizen allegations and were not substantiated or adjudicated during the meeting.
What to watch for next: Wagner said he would submit records requests and forward materials to the Georgia Ethics Commission; any formal complaint or county response would appear in subsequent meetings or filings.
