Black Caucus calls for Gwinnett leader to resign over racist pig post

Tommy Hunter was “out of town on business” Tuesday — but not out of the spotlight.

In the embattled Gwinnett official's absence , his fellow county commissioners held their regular meetings, dealt with the now-routine appearance of protesters , and appointed a familiar face to the ethics board that will investigate him.

In addition, Georgia’s Legislative Black Caucus issued a statement calling for Hunter’s resignation.

“We cannot allow the commissioner to set precedent for unethical behavior without repercussion,” State Rep. Erica Thomas, a Democrat from Austell, said in the caucus’ lengthy emailed statement. “… It has been 43 days since he exhibited the behavior that warrants his resignation or removal, and that is far too long.”

Hunter has been the subject of protests and repeated calls for resignation since a Jan. 14 Facebook post in which he called civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis a "racist pig." He also referred to Democrats as "Demonrats" and a "bunch of idiots."

The Republican commissioner has apologized for his “choice of words” in the post but has also made it clear he has no plans to step down from his District 3 commission post.

The statement from the Black Caucus, a body comprised of 60 members of Georgia’s General Assembly, was sent to media members in the middle of the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners’ 10 a.m. Tuesday meeting. Chair Charlotte Nash had already announced that Hunter would not be present for the day’s proceedings.