Gov. Kemp suspends Camilla mayor from office

CAMILLA – Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an executive order suspending Kelvin Owens as Camilla’s mayor, July 17, effective immediately.

This comes after Camilla’s mayor and two other city officials were arrested and indicted on election interference and conspiracy to commit election fraud on May 28.

The executive order read that the Governor’s office received a certified copy of the indictment on June 2. On Tuesday, a review commission determined the indictment of Owens related to and adversely affected the administration of the Office of the Mayor, “such that the rights and interests of the public are adversely affected.”

Owens is suspended from office “immediately and without further action pending the final disposition of the case or until the expiration of his first term of office, whichever occurs first.”

Owens previously told The Albany Herald that he planned to continue his duties as mayor “until something changes,” after a special called city council meeting, on June 4. Albany Herald reporters tried to contact Owens on a previously used phone number for comment but failed to reach him.