Cherokee residents want commissioner out

By Christopher Quinn

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An angry group of 16 Cherokee County residents called for a county commissioner to step down at a county meeting Tuesday after the recent discovery of past lies about his service as an Army Ranger and a never-earned college degree.

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Phil Skinner, pskinner@ajc.com Derek Good listens to protestors ask for his resignation at the Cherokee County Commission meeting in Canton on Tuesday. Three of the 16 protestors spoke to the meeting, one of which handed in a petition with 205 signatures asking for Good's resignation. Good stepped down from his re-election campaign this summer after it was discovered that he lied about his military and education record but he is still serving out his term until December.

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Phil Skinner, pskinner@ajc.com About 16 protestors showed up at the Cherokee County Commission meeting in Canton on Tuesday to ask that two-term member Derek Good resign. Three protestors spoke to the meeting, one of which handed in a petition with 205 signatures asking for Good's resignation.

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Wearing fluorescent stickers reading "Derek Good Resign Now" and bringing a petition with 205 signatures, members of the group said Good was elected after committing fraud.

"It is an embarrassment to our community that one of our own representatives lied about his military service and college education," said Anna Anthuis of Woodstock.

Judy Davila of Woodstock said outside the meeting, "Someone that would lie like that, I do not wish to have him as my representative. I feel I would rather have no representation than misrepresentation."

Resentment has been building since June, when Good stepped down from his campaign for a third term after his claims of service as an Army Ranger and an earned bachelor's degree were challenged by the local newspaper, the Cherokee Ledger News. Good, who did serve in the 82nd Airborne Division, admitted he did not serve in the Rangers and lied about a business degree from the University of Maryland. However, he said he plans to stay until his term ends in December because he did not want to leave the district without representation.

Good's case is the latest in a string of misrepresentations about military service roiling national and local politics.

Cobb County Public Safety Director Mickey Lloyd resigned last week amid allegations he exaggerated his military service and medals received in Vietnam.

A county investigation found Lloyd had submitted two military discharge documents listing different medals, and a resume taken from Lloyd's computer listed information that the director had received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart and it mentioned Navy SEAL involvement. Military records obtained by the county did not list the medals or SEAL involvement.

Lloyd said he had obtained the Silver Star and Bronze Star, and he blamed the mix-ups on military snafus and erroneous biographical information circulating in the community.

Nationally, Connecticut's Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, is under fire for falsely claiming service in Vietnam. And U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., created a stir by misrepresenting his military record in Kosovo. Both are running for Senate seats.

Linda Flory from Cherokee County said they had heard rumors of the falsifications on Good's resume about four years ago but did not have proof until recently. Several of the group members were angry with Good over a zoning decision earlier this year.

The County Commission does not have the authority to force Good out for his falsifications.

Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens said, "In my opinion, this is a personal issue between a commissioner and his constituents."

Commissioner Jim Hubbard agreed.

"It is not our job to hire and fire commissioners," he said.

Good said he has learned from the experience, which has been difficult.

"I did it, and I regret it and shouldn't have done it," he said.

After the meeting, he said, "I am still qualified to finish the term. I know what I am doing. It is either that or leave this post open until the end of the year."

Good's withdrawal from his re-election race left his Republican opponent, Jason Nelms, as the de facto winner of the seat, as he does not have a Democratic opponent in the fall election.