DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended two Douglas County commissioners after they were indicted on allegations that they rigged a bid for janitorial services.
Douglas County Chairwoman Romona Jackson Jones and Commissioner Henry Mitchell are among other county officials being charged with conspiracy in restraint of free and open competition in transactions. Jones is also facing an additional charge of making false statements.
In a February indictment, it said between May and June 2018, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners was accepting bids for a janitorial contract at an annex building. Prosecutors allege that Jones, Mitchell, Baker, and others had promised a contract to S & A Express.
S & A Express is owned by Anthony Knight, who was also charged in the indictment.
The indictment said Knight missed the window for submitting a bid and asked for a second window to accept bids. When he missed that one as well, they looked at all of the bids submitted and accepted Knight’s late submission that matched the lowest bid that was submitted on time.
They ultimately gave the contract to Knight.
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Jones’ charge of making false statements comes from a June 2022 interview with the GBI in which she told agents that she had not signed a contract with the janitorial company before the contract went through the Board of Commissioners.
In an executive order Thursday, Kemp suspended the commissioners “from office immediately and without further action pending the final disposition of the case or until the expiration of (their) term of office, whichever occurs first.”
The suspension comes after a review commission found the indictments “adversely affect the administration of the Office of the Douglas County Commission, and that the rights and interests of the public (were) adversely affected.”
Jones’ attorney released a statement saying the commissioner was disappointed with the governor’s decision.
“Dr. Jackson Jones vehemently denies all the allegations currently pending against her and continues to strongly proclaim her innocence to these charges. The Chairman looks forward to the opportunity for vindication in a court of law once all the facts can be presented,” the statement said.
“Dr. Jackson Jones will now shift her focus to working with her legal team in the preparation of her defense of these baseless charges.”
In a statement from Douglas County, it said: “Douglas County government will continue to operate and fully function, serving its citizens and visitors. Pending the interim replacement appointments to the commission, the Douglas County Commission will continue to have a quorum of Commissioners (3) to conduct the business of the County.”
Douglas County vice-chair Tarenia Carthan will now preside over Commission meetings and Work Sessions.
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