COMMISSIONER, AS CITIZEN, CALLS FOR HORGAN TO RESIGN

County Commissioner Robert Horgan sat stonefaced during the public
comments portion of Thursday's Fayette County Commission meeting, keeping
both his composure and his elected office in the face of some tough
criticism from citizens and a call for his resignation by a fellow
commissioner.

Horgan was arrested May 23 after an officer smelled marijuana in his
vehicle during a traffic stop. He faces misdemeanor charges for marijuana
possession.

"This board cannot remove a sitting commissioner," Commission Chairman
Jack Smith explained to the audience before he opened the floor to
comments. "I want the public to understand. The voters put us here and,
absent a felony act, only voters can remove us."

An ethics complaint can be filed against Horgan at the county clerk's office.

County Attorney Scott Bennett explained that a county attorney from
another county would conduct an investigation and then the commission
could decide on a penalty ranging from a reprimand, censure or a fine of
not more than $1,000. Commissioner Eric Maxwell distributed a letter
calling for Horgan's resignation.

Maxwell said it is a privilege and an honor to serve in elected office.
"But with that privilege and honor comes the heightened scrutiny of one's
individual actions," the letter said.

Maxwell went on to say he had spoken with dozens of Fayette residents and
also county commissioners from around the state.

"The overwhelming consensus is that the only reasonable, the only
honorable and the only justifiable actions that should be taken is the
immediate resignation of an elected official who violates the public
trust," the letter said.

It ended by saying he had spoken to Horgan personally to express his
feelings. Maxwell signed it "a citizen of Fayette County, Georgia."

Several people who spoke told the commissioners they felt their lack of
action about the matter sent the wrong message. Dawn Oparah, who said she
works with young people as her profession, said children often tell her
there are double standards for conduct.

She thanked Maxwell for expressing his opinion, and said she hoped he
would encourage the other commissioners "to do the right thing."

Former County Commission Chairman Harold Bost took to the podium to call
the situation a "disgrace."

He said county employees can be terminated for drug use, and he feels the
same rules should apply for commissioners.

"How can he have the audacity to show his face in these chambers?"