May 19, 2023
Douglasville, GA- Governor Brian Kemp has appointed former Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller as Chair of the County Commission and local football hero and Navy veteran Ricky Dobbs to fill a Commission seat after suspending two elected officials who have been charged with bid rigging. In doing so, he has overturned the will of the voters and shifted the balance of power away from Democrats who hold the majority in Douglas County.
Republican Phil Miller’s tenure as Sheriff was problematic for a number of reasons, including the deaths of several inmates in his custody and manslaughter charges for the deputies assigned to protect them. Miller retired in 2016 after siding with a Duck Dynasty cast member when he was sanctioned by the network for bigoted comments. Miller, as Sheriff, put his personal beliefs ahead of his duty to the County and cancelled all business with the A&E network. In doing so, he cost Douglas County an opportunity to participate in Georgia’s developing movie industry- A&E had filmed six projects in the area and more were planned. In choosing him, Kemp has selected a man willing to ignore the people he represents in order to further his own beliefs.
Dobbs played football and basketball for Douglas County High School and graduated in 2006; he was nicknamed the Mayor of Douglasville for his interactions with classmates. He became a starting quarterback for the Navy and was honored at the White House several times for his accomplishments on the field. He was reported in 2009 by the New York Times as being a Democrat, considering President Obama a hero, and having aspirations to run for president in 2040. Dobbs, who now teaches at Douglas County High School, recently refused to reveal his political affiliation, stating “I have a more of an independent view because I agree with a lot of things with both parties and I feel like that’s the way the American people in general (feel).” It is reported he attends local Republican meetings.
With these appointments, Kemp has shifted the balance of power in the county and overturned the will of the voters who elected a Democratic majority. Kemp’s actions in Douglas County should give us all pause. He has overridden the will of the people. If we do not stand up to him for this now, he will feel empowered to do so again when the stakes are much higher.
Notes
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/douglas-county-sheriff-weighs-duck-dynasty-controversy/X4dyQnlpxPs7Wq59lBvGAO/
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2013/12/ga-sheriff-stands-with-phil-cuts-ties-with-ae-over-duck-dynasty-flap/
https://patch.com/georgia/douglasville/sheriff-miller-wont-cooperate-with-ae-because-of-duck-dynasty-suspension
https://patch.com/georgia/douglasville/bp–sheriff-phil-miller-the-absentee-sheriff
https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/04/06/douglas-county-commissioners-suspended-after-being-charged-with-conspiracy/
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/sports/ncaafootball/09navy.html
https://navysports.com/news/2009/4/23/Ricky_Dobbs_Blog
https://newsandviewsusa.com/a-rising-star-from-douglas-county/
https://archive.md/HBAas
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/who-will-governor-kemp-choose-to-replace-indicted-douglas-commissioners
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/05/georgia-brian-kemp-bill-remove-local-prosecutors
Debby Yoder 