Resident urges ethics review after public questioning of Commissioner Hoyte

Steve Wagner used the Aug. 6 meeting of the Commission of the Unified Government of Cusseta'Chattahoochee County to press Commissioner Damon Hoyte about court filings and an EEOC complaint that Wagner said involve the county.

Wagner, who said he has more than 35 years'experience in law enforcement and criminal-justice programs, asked Hoyte whether he had pled guilty in magistrate court on Dec. 8, 2022, and whether motions had been filed in subsequent proceedings. Wagner told the commission, "I voted for Mr. Hoyte," and said he would pursue an ethics complaint; the transcript records material Wagner said he had gathered, including documents and recordings. Commissioner Hoyte declined to answer some public questions and suggested some matters could not be discussed at the meeting.

County Attorney Bin Minter reminded the room that commissioners are not required to answer questions during public comment. Wagner alleged the county is incurring legal costs tied to filings by Hoyte and urged the commission to seek Hoyte's resignation within 14 days; he said he intends to forward a complaint to the Georgia Ethics Commission.

After an executive-session period later in the meeting, Hoyte told the board he had considered resigning after election results but decided to remain in office. "I'm not going to resign," he said at reconvening, and he told those urging his resignation to continue their process. The record shows no formal board action removing Hoyte at the Aug. 6 session.

What happened next: Wagner said he will continue to investigate and submit formal complaints outside of the commission meeting. The county recorded the allegations in the meeting minutes; the county attorney and manager flagged the items as legal or personnel matters and placed related items on the work-session agenda for follow-up.