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2007-12-27  TOP STORIES | Forsyth Commissioners discusses sending Voter Registrar issue to judge
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| | by Logan Thomas | |  |
January 09, 2008
CUMMING - The situation regarding alleged unchecked spending by the Forsyth County voter registrar might be decided by a judge. The Forsyth County Commissioners discussed Jan. 8 funding a petition for removal to Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Bagley, the one responsible for appointing Voter Registrar Gary Smith. The commissioners were responding to a request by the Forsyth County Board of Elections.
The commissioners decided to postpone a decision until Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. The funding would start with an allowance of $20,000 with half going to both sides.
County Attorney Ken Jarrard said the judge would look at all the evidence in the case and make a decision on whether removal is warranted.
Commissioner Jim Harrell, who said the facts did not warrant removal, said funding the petition would put an end to the issue that has been ongoing since concerned citizen Terry Sweeney first brought the issue before commissioner on June 7.
"Because the county must have trust in its government and voting in particular," he said, "I will support this funding. I think it would be good for the county and good for the registrar to put this behind him."
However, Commissioner David Richard said the petition is a "waste of taxpayers' money."
"This will not put the issue to rest," he said. "It will extend it. This will not be done quickly. This just pushed this forward. This should have ended months ago."
The county conducted an internal audit in July that discovered Smith owed the county $234 and some work time. Smith reimbursed the county.
The county later funded an independent audit by Bates Carter and Company with the amount not to exceed $10,000. Smith addressed many of the questions raised with the audit.
- www.northfulton.com
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Tags: Forsyth City Council, Forsyth Voter Registrar
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