EDGEFIELD - A former White County, Ga. manager who had his contract terminated following a DUI charge has been offered the job of county administrator in Edgefield County.
Edgefield County Council members unanimously agreed to offer the job to Alton Brown, of Cleveland, Ga. Tuesday afternoon.
As of this afternoon, Mr. Brown has not yet contacted county attorney Michael Medlock to accept the job offer.
Mr. Brown, one of the original candidates for the position vacated by former administrator John Pettigrew, Jr., had removed his name from consideration for the job after information surfaced concerning a DUI with refusal charge and a charge of open container following a traffic stop by city police around 1:30 a.m. on July 11 in Cleveland.
According to the White County News, Mr. Brown who had served as White County manager since 2003 was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the charges. White County officials contacted today said that following the DUI incident county commissioners decided to terminate Mr. Brown's contract.
Carol Jackson was appointed by commissioners to replace Mr. Brown on October 1.
According to local officials, members of the Edgefield County Council were so impressed with Mr. Browns resume they asked him to reconsider, leading to Tuesday evenings vote.
I'm sorry...and I'm not quite sure how to properly say this to get across my meaning, but I think the decision to hire this man should not be predicated on his past DUI incident alone. We all make mistakes, and he certainly did. We have government officials who are exemplary in their duties and we have officials who are piles of dung in their duties...both of which have had incidents of very poor judgement in their pasts. What I'm saying is that what goes on in a person's private life does not necessarily display itself in that person's professional life. These people who interviewed this man have a better insight into his credentials and capabilities than we do after we have just read a short article on him. The man knows what he did was very wrong, and he knows that we know. That's a very good incentive to do what's right in the future.
well said.
Just My Opinion - Excellent post!
I agree. Hire the man.
Hire him. America is the land of second chances and the Bible calls for forgiveness. DUI has NOTHING to do with his qualifications for the job or employment history. So hire him!
I agree to a point if this was his 1st offense, 2nd 3rd or 4th I would say no way Jose.
Heck the previous president and vice president both had DUI records.. Dick Cheney had 2. Now if had an arrest for embezzling money from the county then I can understand terminating for that.
I totally agree stories I have read. One is a mistake, anything after that, no way jose!! lol
Dixie I beg to differ on anymore than 1 dui, repeat dui's and how you conduct yourself outside of your work can have a lot to do with your job. Multiple dui's would show for one, you don't learn a lesson after being caught the first time, 2 you are irresponsible, 3 you are a repeat offender criminal, 4 you do not obey laws and rules and think you are above them, 5 you could care less about killing innocent people so why would anyone think you would care anything about their business to do your job properly.
There is no indication that this was anything other than a first time offense.... so, the man should never work again?? I find that a bit harsh.