For three months now, protesters show up at every Gwinnett County Board of Commission meeting to voice concerns about one very hot topic. Gwinnett’s District 3 Commissioner Tommy Hunter’s controversial Facebook comments calling civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis a “racist pig” have left many residents calling for his resignation. The same post referred to Democrats as “Demonrats” and “a bunch of idiots.”
At each public meeting since the controversy erupted in mid-January, Commissioners conduct as much business as possible, then respectfully listen for about an hour to protesters calling for some kind of formal action against Hunter’s conduct. In most cases, Hunter excuses himself from commission chambers before the open comment period.
Everyone involved agrees the protests distract from county business.
Protesters, including the Gwinnett County Democratic Party, have called for Hunter’s resignation, for commissioners to formally denounce and sanction his actions, or for him to be formally removed from the board. One group calling themselves Indivisible Georgia 7 has formed a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of an open records request for the embattled official’s emails.
In February, two local attorneys Helen Kim Ho and Christine Koehler filed an ethics complaint against Hunter on behalf of Atlanta resident Nancie Turner. It accuses Hunter of violating several sections of Gwinnett’s 2011 ethics ordinance. As a result, Gwinnett has formed its first-ever ethics board to hear the complaint.
If the complaint is sustained, possible penalties could range from written reprimand to removal from office or referral to criminal authorities.
In the meantime, residents and county officials would like to move past this disruptive event. What action, if any, should commissioners take to put the issue to rest?
Send comments to communitynews@ajc.com. Your response may be published in print and/or online.
Tyler Gaston, a Buckhead resident who lives next to the burned-out section of I-85, has gone to court, asking that the expressway’s reconstruction now going full bore 24/7 be halted at night so he and his neighbors can get some sleep. Is the request reasonable?
Here’s what some readers had to say:
We are all losing sleep over this matter – those who are near the construction zone, and those of us who have to get up earlier to get around traffic. Construction needs to continue for 24/7 until it's done. It's not fair that we push it back so they can get sleep and we still don't. We are all in this boat together. — Richard J. Diaz
Is he serious? He is worried about a few sleepless nights when thousands of Atlanta businesses are losing millions of dollars. What a grump. He needs to move to the country. — Jane G. Smith
The simplest solution would be for GDOT to move those residents to another location at GDOT's expense. Who wants to put up with noise like this for one day? It's just not fair to those residents. — Regenia Haley
I totally agree with Tyler Gaston. Road construction should not continue all night, keeping residents awake. It is totally unnecessary. Sleep is much more important. — Yvonne Ragan
Foam earplugs: $1.25. Problem solved. — Pete Rockett
Tyler Gaston needs to put on his big-boy pants and grow up. He is not the center of the universe. The city cannot, will not and should not stop repairs on I-85 to accommodate his self-centered ego trip. This "me-first-and-only" is unfortunately typical of the millennial mindset. Frankly, if I were the judge in this case, I'd first fine him for wasting the court's time, and then tell him to get a life. — K.P. Mautner
Please tell me you are kidding! Any suggestion to not continue the work is beyond me. — J. Leathers
While I sympathize with Tyler Gaston, I believe he should put the needs of many before his own. Mr. Gaston need not play the victim. He could temporarily use earplugs; stay with a friend, family or colleague; or rent a motel room until the repairs are complete. There are so many alternatives he can choose from that I find his request for financial aid to relocate and his lawsuit to be selfish and egotistical. This is a temporary inconvenience for 250,000 or more, and not just Mr. Gaston. — Joanie Eddy
Absolutely not! The needs of a few – one in this case – should not outweigh the needs of the many – everyone else living in Atlanta and traveling through Atlanta. — Grant Krueger
Tell Mr. Gaston to buy some earplugs. We have thousands of motorists being inconvenience by this fire. He needs to have some compassion for his fellow citizens. … Also, the city of Atlanta should be ashamed for screwing around with the app Waze to keep people off of local streets. They need to be helping employees get to work any way they can. Help these motorists, rather than try to hurt them. — Gerald McCarley
David Ibata for the AJC
Read more about the Tommy Hunter issue here:
Hunter hasn't made appointment to Gwinnett board probing his 'racist pig' post
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