Citizens trying to get recall of Harris, Herndon, Davidson
The ongoing dispute surrounding the Brantley County data center has seen members of the community push back in different ways, from holding citizen meetings to organize against it, to protests at official county meetings.
Now, some citizens are pushing to recall members of the commission.
In late June, Brantley County resident Shannon Denbow took out a recall application for three members of the Brantley County Commission — Chairmain Skipper Harris, Hal Herndon and Randy Davidson.
The three commissioners were in attendance at a Wednesday, June 24 Public Hearing concerning a rezoning request. Commissioners Brian Hendrix and Andy Riggins were not present.
The trio voted to approve the rezoning request of the Brantley County Development Authority for a 102.98-acre parcel on Pembers Road in the Industrial Park from Agriculture to Heavy Industrial.
To hold a recall vote for a commissioner, the application would need 100 signatures for each commissioner within the allotted time period.
Through Monday, July 6, Davison had received 83 signatures, Herndon 81 and Harris 79. The application is due today (Wednesday, July 8) at the Brantley County Board of Elections office.
“I’m sure we’ll be able to get the necessary votes for the recall,” Denbow said.
Following this, the signatures would be verified, and the matter then goes before the Brantley County Election Board, which determines whether there is sufficient grounds for recall exist.
There are two tests for determining sufficient grounds for recall.
The first test is determined by whether:
• a county commissioner must have, while holding public office, conducted himself or herself in a manner which relates to and adversely affects the administration of his or her office;
• and if that same conduct of the county commissioner must also have adversely affected the rights and interests of the public.
Included in the second test are a list of violations that would qualify a commissioner for recall include: 1. Having committed an act or acts of malfeasance while in office; 2. Have violated his or her oath of office; 3. Have committed an act of misconduct in office; 4. Be guilty of failure to perform duties prescribed by law; or 5. Have willfully misused, converted, or misappropriated, without authority, public property or public funds entrusted to or associated with the elective office to which the official has been elected or appointed.
Denbow contends the commissioners are guilty of all five violations.
Then, to actually recall said commissioner, 30 percent of the registered voters from those commissioner’s last election would have to vote in favor.
According to Brantley County Board of Elections Supervisor BettyJo Morgan, there were 11,677 voters registered for the 2024 election putting the 30% needed for a recall at 3,503.
Prior to the recall effort, Denbow created a Change.org petition titled “Say ‘No’ to Data Centers in Brantley County”, which has received 1,611 signatures to date. She has also retained an attorney regarding a dispute over an open records request she filed with the County in April.
When asked for comment, Denbow replied, “Say no to data centers. Brantley County is not for sale. We need to protect the Satilla.”
