More drama in the BOC office; some thoughts about election day

We don’t have the answers.

But the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed this week that the agency will look into the possible theft or misappropriation of funds from the board of commissioners' office. Athens GBI agent Jim Fullington said Tuesday that his office intends to study the department’s finances next week, barring any major crimes that might take priority between now and then.

Former deputy clerk Melinda Spence was charged with the theft of $1,700 in senior center funds in April. But that is apparently not the end of the story. We’ve heard whispers for weeks, “just wait, there’s more to come” concerning missing money.

And the fact that a state agency has been called in to sniff out the stink suggests that the days of drama in the BOC office are far from over. The department has had considerable turnover and drama in recent months, with acrimony spilling into public meetings. The inner-office conflicts have been multi-layered and hard for the casual observer to follow or judge.

Hopefully, we’ll soon hear a detailed explanation about what has happened.

The investigation will probably provide political talk in Madison County well beyond Tuesday.

But what about Tuesday? Who’s going to win our local primaries? Do you realize that three of the six races at the BOC table won’t extend to the fall?

Due to the local dominance of the Republican Party, July is now the big election month around these parts, not November, at least when it comes to the BOC. So, if you care about the group that makes decisions about your roads, your taxes and what you can do with your land, then you won’t sit at home on election day.

I’ve repeated the same old, bow out whenever I’m asked for predictions. I refer to my abysmal record as a pigskin prognosticator, noting that I’m even worse at election time.

There are those who want to see someone new at the chairman’s podium, while some would prefer that the chairman stay and his rivals at the BOC table go.

I think most people are hoping for something new, one way or another. And if there is truly a change, it will be interesting to see how new relationships take shape next year. I’ve covered three terms at the Madison County BOC table and each board has its own feel, its own patterns of conflict and compromise.

While it’s truly unlikely that everybody will hold serve, that all incumbents will win, I’ve wondered about that possibility, too. What if all remain? How will the chairman and board function in coming years?

I can answer that: not well at all.

Those who want Wesley Nash gone say he doesn’t honor his word, that he’s grown lazy over the last 12 years and can’t be trusted as a leader. On the flip side, Nash supporters say three district commissioners — Stanley Thomas, John Pethel and Mike Youngblood — are the source of problems at the BOC table. They contend that the three have formed a power-hungry trio that has effectively transformed the county form of government without citizen input by stripping the chairman of his elected duties.

Those old divisions can’t be healed.

Tuesday is momentous, whatever you believe about these long-standing conflicts.

Talk with those whose opinions you respect, read what we’ve printed about these candidates — have your say on that big day.

Zach Mitcham is editor of The Madison County Journal.