Joe Graham
Several members of the County Commission on Wednesday blasted Commissioner Joe Graham, calling him a "hypocrite" who "runs to the media" to defame them.
The panel then voted down a Graham request to use $32,275 of "old" discretionary funds for windows at the John A. Patten Recreation Center in Lookout Valley. Voting no were Chairman Chester Bankston, Sabrena Smedley and Tim Boyd. Vice Chairman Randy Fairbanks voted "present" as he said Commissioner Graham had done 50-60 times when other commissioners wanted to use their discretionary money. In favor were Commissioners Graham, Jim Fields, Greg Beck and Warren Mackey. Five yes votes were needed for approval. The District 3 seat is currently vacant on the nine-member panel.
Commissioner Graham, who responded at the end of the commissioner comments about him, "Wow. That's all I can say is wow," said he may bring up the issue again when the District 3 seat is filled.
The $100,000 per commissioner for projects of their choosing was left out of this year's budget. The prior year, Commissioner Graham declined to spend his share after the county mayor fought to do away with the fund and was overruled by a majority of the commission.
Commissioner Mackey said he was "a little puzzled" that Commissioner Graham was making the request, saying, "I thought he had given up his money." He said the request was "hypocritical" or at least "confusing."
Commissioner Boyd said he had a problem with using county funds on the city-owned rec center.
He also said that Commissioner Graham "has been critical of us for 18 months for using discretionary money" and then was making a similar request.
Vice Chairman Fairbanks said Commissioner Graham voted "present" on 10 worthy projects he funded through his share of discretionary funds. He said when he (Graham) "does not get his way he goes to the media and calls a press conference. I don't operate that way. I don't pout."
He claimed that Commissioner Graham was "behind a rumor that we were going to recall our chairman" and a column in which Vice Chairman Fairbanks said his wife was attacked.
He said, "It's just unbearable almost up here."
Commissioner Smedley said, "If you wrestle with a pig you may get a little mud on you. You may get more than that."
She accused Commissioner Graham of "running to the media and throwing everyone else under the bus just to make yourself look good."
She said, "It's not right. I don't know how we can stop it."
Commissioner Smedley said, "Not only does he use the media, you ought to see his Facebook page. Check it out. You'll be quite amused."
She said when Commissioner Graham opposes a spending project and "does not get his way" he often refers to it causing a possible tax increase.
She stated, "I'm getting a little bit fed up with the hypocrisy."
Commissioner Beck asked, "Can we all get along?"
He said it was the first time that a commission chairman had allowed members to criticize a fellow commissioner at a commission meeting.
He told Chairman Bankston, "You are suppose to be a merchant of peace."
The chairman said he was told that he could not stop a commissioner from voicing an opinion. County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said the chairman could bring a halt to criticism among commissioners.
Commissioner Beck said, "I agree with what has been said. But this is an embarrassing situation. We are here to do our business - not to beat up on a county commissioner from this dais and for the chairman to allow something like that."
He asked, "Can we not show our Christian heritage?"
Commissioner Graham said he did give back some discretionary funds, but still had some from earlier. He said the city was putting money into the Patten Center project and the windows were pledged as the county share.
He said, "As far as me going to the media, that's just not true. I can't control what the media writes about."
He said he has called several press conferences at the urging of constituents.
Commissioner Graham also said, "I don't attack people up here."
He said the Fairbanks couple "gave me my first political contribution."
Commissioner Graham withdrew a second resolution asking to be able to use $2,500 from his county expense account for paint and cleaning supplies for a Lookout Valley recreation complex. He said that money had been raised privately after that request was earlier turned down by the commission.
He said the response was "unbelievable" and a majority of the donations came from District 1 - represented by Vice Chairman Fairbanks.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Beck said he would not offer himself for vice chairman should there be a re-vote on the commission leadership. He said there was "too much hostility and deception going on on the commission."
Commissioner Beck said, "Chester Bankston is a liar and deceitful."