Hayes offers response to vote against McCoy

ALBANY — Dougherty County Commissioner John Hayes, who has been at the center of the controversy surrounding the failed attempt by the commission to appoint a permanent county administrator, offered a statement Monday that outlines his reasons for voting against Mike McCoy for the position. McCoy had been named most qualified candidate by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government after a monthslong search.

“I joined a majority of the Board of Commissioners with our desire to prepare Dougherty County for the future, which factored heavily into my decision (not to vote to approve McCoy),” Hayes wrote. “I apologize for not issuing my thoughts sooner; but my desire is to do what is best for our county and not to malign anyone or any applicant for the County Administrator’s position. I hope that my response provides clarification and understanding of my decision.

“As a Commissioner, it is my duty and responsibility to vote according to what I believe to be best for the citizens of the 2nd district and for Dougherty County. I take this commitment very seriously by carefully weighing the pros and cons of every vote I submit. The following reasons are why I voted to re-advertise for an expanded applicant pool for hiring a County Administrator for Dougherty County.”

Hayes offered four reasons for his vote, including:

— Vision for the future. As commissioner, I am tasked not with just looking year-to-year, but also 5, 10, or 20 years into the future. With our population declining every year, as well as our tax digest, it is my opinion that we have to look at new data-driven solutions in order to keep Dougherty County a great place to live, work and raise a family. Today’s competitive environment demands that we consider innovative ways to match Dougherty County’s human and natural resources with industry needs in efforts to attract new industries to our beloved community.

— Conversations with county staff. In my time as commissioner, I have had the pleasure of working closely with many of our employees. From our executive team to those on the front lines, many of them feel comfortable sharing with me their thoughts on the county. Some of them expressed a desire for a different direction moving forward. The opinions of the county staff are of great value to me in understanding how management decisions help or hinder the great work that they do daily for the citizens of Dougherty County.

— Conversation with citizenry. I have had the pleasure of speaking with many of our citizens during my service as commissioner and more recently in conducting my campaign for re-election. From our citizens’ perspective and our constituency, we have to weigh the ideas and opinions as well as concerns for those we are elected to serve. Several citizens have approached me in sharing with me their thoughts on the county. Many of them expressed a desire for a different direction moving forward, essentially expressing the concerns of insanity in doing the same things, same approaches and expecting a different outcome, in unsuccessful conduct of the past. Surely the opinions of the county citizens must be of great value to me in understanding how management decisions help or hinder the great expectations of the progress of Dougherty County.

— I accept and understand that there are differing opinions on this matter. I hope this provides some clarity as to the reasons for my vote on today. No matter how difficult a vote is, I try to make the best decisions for the citizens of the 2nd District and all of Dougherty County.

Hayes concluded his statement by noting, “No further statements will be made to this matter beyond this press release.”

Albany attorney Maurice King, who represents McCoy, said after Monday’s vote that Hayes and fellow commissioners Gloria Gaines, Anthony Jones and Clinton Johnson would be named as defendants in a lawsuit “in their individual and professional capacities” for what King called “retaliatory” action taken against McCoy.