Former Augusta mayor wants investigation of current mayor

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A former mayor of Augusta needs a civil investigation into how the present mayor is spending cash.

Former Mayor Bob Younger instructed native information shops Tuesday he had despatched a letter to Superior Court docket Decide Daniel Craig urging that he empanel a particular grand jury to research Mayor Hardie Davis.

“Data are being withheld or their launch stonewalled, unchecked spending has occurred in violation of county insurance policies and a state investigation is beneath approach regarding using public sources for political functions,” Younger wrote to Decide Craig.

The grand jury wouldn’t carry legal costs, however Younger mentioned it may ahead proof of any crime to legislation enforcement.

Davis, who has 9 months left in workplace and is barred from in search of a 3rd time period, could possibly be sanctioned by the state ethics fee for failing to file marketing campaign finance reviews in 2019 and 2020 whilst he collected greater than $10,000 in contributions. In a divorce submitting final week, his spouse accused him of getting an affair with a advisor paid by the mayor’s workplace, which Davis denied. He’s had his bank card spending curbed by the city-county fee.

A minority of Augusta commissioners have known as for forensic audits of the mayor’s workplace or all the city-county authorities, however lack sufficient votes to proceed. Younger mentioned a particular grand jury may have the same impact.

Younger mentioned the decision in a speech earlier than a civic membership. He mentioned an investigation may take greater than 12 months, however mentioned it’s necessary for residents of Augusta-Richmond County to know what occurred, even when Davis leaves workplace earlier than an inquiry concludes.

“It’s a disservice to previous and future mayors to permit the workplace to be demeaned and tarnished,” Younger instructed WJBF-TV.

Davis mentioned in a press release that Younger “is now a non-public citizen, and, as such, he’s free to supply his opinion.” An accounting agency is already analyzing Davis’ use of metropolis bank cards.

“This subject continues to be mentioned by the town’s elected leaders,” Davis mentioned in a press release. “I consider that it could not be smart for the courtroom to insert itself into this dialogue and should solely result in an additional lack of confidence in our judiciary.”

Craig instructed the Augusta Chronicle it could be inappropriate for him to remark.

When Younger was mayor 20 years in the past, he known as for a particular grand jury to research an Augusta hearth chief. A jury was empaneled, with Craig then serving as district lawyer. Grand jurors discovered the chief violated metropolis coverage and awarded unfair promotions, however no legal costs resulted.