McCoy set to start work as interim Terrell County administrator
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By Carlton Fletcher
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DAWSON — When you’ve worked on the higher levels of the public service sector for more than a quarter-century, serving people gets in the blood.
That’s why, on Monday morning, former Dougherty County Administrator Michael McCoy will go to work as interim Terrell County administrator. And there’s a reason the “interim” tag will be associated with McCoy’s title.
“The leadership (in Terrell County) reached out to me about working there, and with more than 25 years of management experience in the public sector, I’ve always loved the work,” McCoy said. “I saw this as an opportunity to continue serving the people of southwest Georgia, and Terrell County in particular.
“The leaders here know that my case is still pending in Dougherty County and there’s a possibility that I will retain my job there. That’s why we agreed to make this an interim position. But I’m prepared to devote myself to the people of this community, just as I did in Dougherty County.”
McCoy has a $5 million lawsuit pending against Dougherty County after four members of the Dougherty County Commission voted to fire him, declaring that McCoy “disrespected” them by not discussing plans to hire a white assistant county administrator. McCoy and all four members of the commission who voted to oust him are black.
McCoy’s suit includes charges that the Dougherty board defamed his character, operated a hostile work environment and broke state whistleblower laws. Commission Chairman Lorenzo Heard and Commissioners Victor Edwards, Clinton Johnson and Gloria Gaines also have been charged with breaking state and local laws in their handling of McCoy’s firing.
The new Terrell County administrator said he is familiar with the community he will start serving on Monday.
“I’m very familiar with Terrell County — I’m heading there Saturday for the Otis Redding Festival — and I know members of their leadership like (County Commission chairman) T. Gamble, (city manager) Tracy Hester and (mayor) Robert Aaron,” McCoy said. “I feel like I have a great existing relationship with leadership there, and I’m looking forward to serving the people of Terrell County.
“I feel good about things. I feel rejuvenated from spending time with my family in Texas, and I am so grateful for the continued support my family and I are receiving from the people in the Albany community. I’m ready to get back to work.”
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