The Board of Ethics Committee in Guyton is scheduled to hold a public hearing at noon on July 9 at Guyton City Hall regarding an ethics complaint filed against City Councilman Theodore Hamby.
According to City Clerk Fabian Mann, "The public hearing is an opportunity for involved individuals to provide their testimony and cross-examine available witnesses."
Justin Hitt, campaign manager for Kelly Hoffner, who lost in a tight run-off contest for the Republican nomination for the Effingham County Tax Commissioner position, lodged an ethics complaint against Hamby for "soliciting money from candidates running in the tax commissioner’s race."
The Savannah Morning News obtained from the City of Guyton, via an open records request, Hitt's eight-page written complaint plus two separate recordings of phone conversations between Hitt and Hamby in which Hamby admits to signing a contract and receiving $625 up front and another $625 for a win from Daniel Rodewolt, Hoffner's opponent, in exchange for Hamby’s services as Rodewolt’s campaign manager.
The phone conversations were recorded by Hitt on May 26. Hitt spoke with Hamby via speaker phone and recorded the conversation using another cell phone, capturing Hamby's profile photo and name on the recordings. Hoffner was present during at least one of those conversations.
Hitt confirmed via text message that he never informed Hamby that their phone conversations were being recorded. According to Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 16-11-66, an individual can record a telephone conversation in Georgia if that individual is a party to the conversation.
In the complaint, Hitt alleges Hamby agreed to “support Rodewolt as his campaign manager” after, according to the phone conversation, publicly supporting Hoffner in the months prior to signing a contract with Rodewolt.
Hamby denies “all the false claims” brought against him.
“I have always conducted myself with the utmost integrity and have prided myself on being the most transparent councilman,” said Hamby. “I eagerly await the conclusion of this matter so that I can continue focusing on the work the citizens of Guyton elected me to do.”
Throughout the recording, however, Hamby expressed concern over the way he had handled the situation.
"I am still learning," said Hamby in the recorded phone call. "This whole thing is new to me and honestly, I don't like the way, personally, that I'm handling things and that's when I have a problem with it. I'm honestly a bit disgusted of myself but I can't change anything right now because Daniel signed a contract."
Rodewolt has since countered saying, "I did not pay Theodore Hamby to be [my] campaign manager."
The complaint was referred to both the City of Guyton's Board of Ethics and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI determined that information provided in the complaint "did not rise to the level of a GBI investigation," according to Nelly Miles, director of Office of Public & Governmental Affairs for GBI.
Reginald Stanmar and Robert Hunter lead the two-member board and will hear from all parties involved. Per ethics guidelines, a decision must be rendered seven days after the final hearing.
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
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