Viola Davis
Increase Property Value and Avoid Overpaying Property Taxes
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2014
FROM: Viola Davis, Founder
Restore DeKalb
P.O. Box 831894
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083
CONTACT:
Phone: 404-573-2813
Email: RestoreDeKalb@gmail.com
Website: http://restoredekalb.org
People’s Forum II: Increase Property Value and Avoid Overpaying Property Taxes
Suspect you’re overpaying property taxes and/or asking if you should appeal your property tax assessment? Appealed your property taxes and do not understand the process? Have you asked for ways to increase your property value and address violations that decrease your property value?
Homeowners and Property Owners who appealed their 2014 DeKalb County Real and Personal Property Tax Assessment need to attend the forum at Sanford Realty Company Conference Center, 4183 Snapfinger Woods Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30035 on October 11, 2014 at 9:30am.
This forum will help educate and assist homeowners and property owners in understanding the appraisal, appeal, and assessment process. The forum will provide information on how to file a complaint against violations that decrease property value.
The confirmed presenters include:
· Calvin C. Hicks – Chief Appraiser
· Debra DeBerry – Clerk of Superior Court
· Byron Scott – Board of Equalization (BOE) Supervisor
Restore DeKalb strives to educate DeKalb County taxpayers and voters on how to save hundreds, or even thousands of dollars a year with almost no drawbacks by appealing the property tax assessment. The process is free (Board of Equalization). If you think your property is being over assessed and need help with the appeal process, Restore DeKalb looks forward to educating homeowners and property owners to increase property value and avoid overpaying their property taxes.
Remember, the first installment of DeKalb’s 2014 real estate and personal property taxes is due on September 30th.
Download the flyers:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/241438495/Increase-Property-Value-and-Avoid-Overpaying-Property-Taxes
Restore DeKalb Presents People’s Forum I & II – September 13th at 9:30am
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2014
FROM: Viola Davis, Founder
Restore DeKalb
P.O. Box 831894,
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083
CONTACT:
Phone: 404-573-2813
Email: RestoreDeKalb@gmail.com
Website: http://restoredekalb.org
Restore DeKalb Presents People’s Forum I & II
PEOPLE’S FORUM I & II
Learn what the politicians don’t want you to know at the Sanford Realty Company Conference Center, 4183 Snapfinger Woods Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30083:
• Forum I – September 13, 2014
• Forum II – October 11, 2014
• Both start at 9:30am
- HELP RESTORE $100 MILLION TO DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM (DCSS)
- HELP STOP THE REMOVAL OF OVER $100 MILLION DOLLARS FROM DCSS SINCE 2006 TO TAX POOR/RECEIVER COUNTIES SUCH AS GWINNETT.
- HELP RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST (UPDATE ON ETHICS COMPLAINTS)
We are forwarding links to the petition, resolution, flyers, and brochure (etc.) for Restore 100+ Million to DeKalb County School System. If we had this money, we would have enough money to finance the following:
• We would not need the money from cell towers on school grounds
• We would have enough money to finance charter clusters
• We would have enough money to increase the pay of our school employees
• We would have enough money to finance the needs of our refugee students
• Etc.
1. Restore $100 Million To DCSS – Resolution: http://www.scribd.com/doc/208057170/Restore-100-Million-To-DeKalb-County-School-System-DCSS-Resolution
2. Restore $100 Million To DCSS – Petition: http://www.scribd.com/doc/208056402/Restore-100-Million-To-DeKalb-County-School-System-DCSS-Petition
3. Restore $100 Million To DCSS – Brochure Front: http://www.scribd.com/doc/208055182/Restore-100-Million-To-DeKalb-County-School-System-DCSS-Brochure-Front
4. Restore $100 Million To DCSS – Brochure Back: http://www.scribd.com/doc/208055888/Restore-100-Million-To-DeKalb-County-School-System-DCSS-Brochure-Back
5. Restore $100 Million To DCSS – Flyer Front: http://www.scribd.com/doc/208053232/Restore-100-Million-To-DeKalb-County-School-System-DCSS-Flyer-Front
6. Restore $100 Million To DCSS – Flyer Back: http://www.scribd.com/doc/208054138/Restore-100-Million-To-DeKalb-County-School-System-Flyer-Back
7. Restore $100 Million to DCSS – PowerPoint Presentation: http://www.scribd.com/doc/208788430/Restore-100-Million-to-Dekalb-County-School-System-DCSS-Restore-DeKalb-Presentation-PDF-File
8. Restore DCSS Funding Video: Redistribution of Wealth – DCSS with Tom Bowen: http://youtu.be/xW38VZ-lOKM
9. Restore DCSS Funding Video: Inequity in Funding & Redistribution of Wealth with Rep. Billy Mitchell:
Elaine Boyer Resigns and Plans to Plead Guilty
Former DeKalb County Commissioner Charged With Stealing County Funds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2014
ATLANTA – Elaine Boyer, the former Commissioner of District 1 in DeKalb County, Ga., has been arraigned on charges relating to her embezzlement of county funds and misuse of her DeKalb County credit card.
“As an elected County Commissioner, Ms. Boyer had a duty to serve the best interests of the citizens of DeKalb County,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “Instead of honoring that commitment, Ms. Boyer stole from the citizens she was sworn to serve by diverting thousands of dollars in county funds to her personal bank account and using her county-issued credit card like it was her own.”
J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “Public corruption based investigations often stem from actions that would be seen as clearly improper and illegal to the average person. The charges in this case, however, reflect criminal actions of a twenty-two year veteran DeKalb County Commissioner who knew fully the nature of her actions and she will now face the consequences of those actions. The FBI places a high priority toward investigating allegations of public corruption due to the extensive harm that it can cause on many levels and we ask that anyone with information regarding such allegations to please contact their nearest FBI field office.”
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: In DeKalb County, Ga., the Board of Commissioners (“BOC”) serves as the legislative branch of the DeKalb County Government. The BOC is comprised of seven part-time commissioners, who are elected to serve four-year terms. Each of the seven Commissioners is responsible for the management of their respective offices, which includes controlling the offices’ budget and hiring staff members, contractors, and consultants. In recent years, the operating budget for a Commissioner’s office has been approximately $250,000 per year. The Commissioners may use their budget only for county-related business.
Since 1992, Ms. Boyer served as the Commissioner of District 1, which serves citizens in north DeKalb County, including in Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Tucker, and Smoke Rise, Ga. Among other responsibilities, Ms. Boyer sat on the BOC’s Finance, Budget, and Audit Committee and was the Chairwoman of the Employee Relations and Community Services Committee. Boyer’s term of office was to expire in 2016; however, Boyer resigned yesterday.
In September 2009, as the Commissioner of District 1, Ms. Boyer retained an individual (“Advisor”) supposedly to assist her with government consulting and advisory duties on issues that affected her constituents. From September 2009 to November 2011, false invoices were submitted to Ms. Boyer’s office for consulting services purportedly rendered by Advisor. In fact, Advisor performed no services for Ms. Boyer, District 1 constituents, or DeKalb County. Ms. Boyer used the false invoices as a basis to authorize payments to Advisor. Based on requisition requests from Ms. Boyer, DeKalb County mailed approximately 35 checks to Advisor for consulting services that were never performed. In total, DeKalb County paid Advisor more than $78,000, believing that legitimate services had been performed for the county.
After being paid by DeKalb County, Advisor funneled approximately 75% of the money received from DeKalb County into Ms. Boyer’s personal bank account. Between September 2009 and November 2011, Advisor deposited more than $58,000 in DeKalb County funds into Ms. Boyer’s personal bank account (while retaining the remainder of the money). In turn, Ms. Boyer used the money deposited into her account to pay personal expenses, including purchases at hotels and high-end department stores.
Additionally, in her capacity as a Commissioner, DeKalb County issued Ms. Boyer a Visa Purchasing Card (“P-Card”) to make county-related purchases. On January 14, 2010, she signed a Cardholder Users’ Agreement stating she would not use the P-Card to make personal purchases.
From October 2010 to February 2014, Ms. Boyer made more than 50 personal purchases on her P-Card, including purchasing airline tickets and hotel rooms for herself and her family for personal travel. In total, she made over $15,000 worth of purchases on her P-Card for personal goods and services.
Elaine Boyer, 57, of Stone Mountain, Ga., was charged via Criminal Information with conspiring to committed mail fraud and with wire fraud. She is scheduled to plead guilty at 3:00 p.m., on September 3, 2014, before U.S. District Court Judge Orinda D. Evans.
Members of the public are reminded that the information only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey W. Davis and Kurt R. Erskine are prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office atUSAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the home page for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division ishttp://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.
ACTION ALERT – Joint Transportation Study Group to Meet Near You
ACTION ALERT – Joint Transportation Study Group to Meet Near You
Did you know that All Georgians now subsidize Atlanta’s middle class commuters through the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) for Xpress bus service in metro Atlanta? For some reason, they cannot raise the fare. See the report.
Did you know that of the 4% sales tax on gasoline that consumers pay in Georgia, 25% of that tax goes to the state general fund instead of being utilized directly on transportation needs?
Did you know that Georgia’s Statewide Transportation Plan 2005-2035 has an estimated cost of $160 billion? Yet, only $86 billion is expected to be available for transportation spending over that period. That leaves a funding gap of $74 billion.
WHERE DO YOU THINK THE REST OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM? It’s time to make your voices heard.
HR 1573 created a joint study committee of 16 members for the purpose of identifying new sources and methods of funding for critical transportation infrastructure needs. The committee will include the chairs of the House and Senate Transportation Committees, who will serve as co-chairs. The presiding officers of each chamber will appoint three legislative members and one citizen member. Other members include the chairpersons of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce or designee, the president and CEO of the Metro-Atlanta Chamber of Commerce or designee, the executive director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, and the executive director of the Georgia Municipal Association. The committee is authorized for eight days and will make recommendations to the legislature by November 30, 2014.
The Joint Study Committee on Critical Transportation Infrastructure Funding will be holding public information meetings on the following tentative dates and cities. There will be time for public comment. You are encouraged to attend so that your concerns can be heard.
August 18th Columbus
September 2nd Tifton
September 3rd Macon
September 30th Augusta
October 1st Savannah
October 28th Rome
October 29th Blue Ridge
The first meeting was held in Atlanta on August 5th. Georgia DOT Commissioner Keith Golden gave a presentation on Transportation in Georgia. Some of the suggestions discussed:
Putting the 4th penny of the gas tax back in the transportation fund
Legislation to allow fractional SPLOST
Raise the gas tax
Multi-jurisdictional (2 or more counties) SPLOSTS like those proposed by Ed Setzler in HB195.
Keeping gas tax revenue in the state instead of sending it to Washington. There are strings attached with federal money which increase costs and causes delays. See the Transportation Empowerment Act proposed by Congressman Tom Graves.
Mileage meters on cars (tax on miles driven)
Autonomous cars
More HOT lanes (toll roads)
Although the TSPLOST was defeated in 9 out of 12 regions, HB 277, the TSPLOST law is still on the books. Now is the time to make your voices heard. Contact the House Staff: Tracy Atcheson (404) 656-1782 for exact locations and confirmation of the meeting dates and times.
This message is being sent by the Transportation Leadership Coalition and is not affiliated with the General Assembly legislators or staff.
Please help spread the word by forwarding this email to all interested parties you think will be affected.
Thanks,
Transportation Leadership Coalition, LLC
800-821-0102
www.repealregionalism.com
www.traffictruth.net
Facebook: facebook.com/RepealRegionalism
facebook.com/TrafficTruth
Twitter: @RepealRegionali
@TrafficTruth
Meet & Greet with Restore DeKalb – August 21st
You’re invited
to join us for a…
MEET AND GREET
WITH
“RESTORE DEKALB”
“Let’s Get To Know Each Other”
WHEN: August 21, 2014 (Thursday) at 6:30pm
WHERE: Bobbie Sanford Realtors Office, 4183 Snapfinger Woods Dr., Decatur, Ga 30035
WHO: Restore DeKalb & “Like Minds”
WHAT: Mission to “Restore Public Trust”
CONTACT: Joel Edwards at 404-966-1121 or Willie Pringle at 678-451-9333
Restore DeKalb Meet & Greet – Let’s Get To Know Each Other
You’re invited
to join us for a…
MEET AND GREET
WITH
“RESTORE DEKALB”
“Let’s Get To Know Each Other”
When: |
August 21, 2014 (Thursday) at 6:30pm |
Where: |
Bobbie Sanford Realtors Office, 4183 Snapfinger Woods Dr., Decatur, Ga 30035 |
Who: |
Restore DeKalb & “Like Minds” |
what: |
Mission to “Restore Public Trust” |
contact: |
Joel Edwards at 404-966-1121 or Willie Pringle at 678-451-9333 |
We Hope To See You There
Time for Parrott to prove libelous and defamatory statements in Kathie Gannon’s Ethics Complaint
Memo
To: Chairman John Ernst, DeKalb Board of Ethics, Interim CEO Lee May, Executive Assistant, Zach Williams, District Attorney, Robert James, Lori Dennis, Travis Cherry, Scott Callan, Morris Williams, Commissioners Chief of Staff and Barbara Sanders, Clerk of the CEO and Commission
From: Viola Davis
cc:
Office of the State and Federal Inspector Generals, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sally Quillian Yates, DeKalb Board of Commissioners, Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter, CTEA, Restore DeKalb and all Appropriate Parties.
Date: July 10, 2014
Re:
Documentation of Monica Parrott’s Open Records Request for Official Government Information Regarding Commissioner Kathie Gannon’s Ethics Complaint
Documentation of Monica Parrott’s Open Records Request for Official Government Information regarding Commissioner Kathie Gannon’s Ethics Complaint
Pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Law (O.C.G.A. 50-18-70 et seq.)(The Law) and/or Freedom of Information Act, copying: all files, records, and other documents of Monica Parrott’s Open Records Request for Official Government Information regarding Commissioner Kathie Gannon’s Ethics Complaint to include:
1. Parrott’s Open Records Request for Bank of America records with Lori Dennis’ name at the top and dated:
a. October 05, 2012 – November 04, 2012 (Page 28 of 30)
b. December 05, 2012 – January 04, 2013 (Page 15 of 16)
c. February 05, 2013 – March 04, 2013 (Page 25 of 26)
2. Parrott’s Open Records Request for Bank of America records with Travis Cherry’s name at the top and dated:
a. April 05, 2013 – May 04, 2013 (Page 27 of 30)
b. May 05, 2013 – June 04, 2013 (Page 31 of 32)
c. November 05, 2013 – December 04, 2013 (Page 15 of 16)
d. July 05, 2013 – August 04, 2013 (Page 28 of 30)
e. December 05, 2013 – January 04, 2014 (page 14 of 16)
3. Parrott’s Open Records Request to the finance department for copies of the Bank of America Bank Statements and documents quoted concerning Commissioner Kathie Gannon’s payments to nonprofits for “kickbacks”.
4. Parrott’s Open Records Request to Purchasing and Contracting for financial information regarding Commissioner Gannon’s Ethics Complaint.
It is important to increase transparency, ethics, and accountability in DeKalb County Government. It is paramount that we increase “Public Trust” in DeKalb County. We must hold our elected officials and their staff accountable.
DeKalb County government (legislative and administrative) must be investigated to assess if any government resources, staff, finances, etc. were used to assist Monica Parrott in filing the ethics complaint. We must verify the following:
• Did Monica Parrott receive any assistance in compiling the ethics complaint against Commissioner Kathie Gannon from elected officials and/or government officials/staff?
• Did Monica Parrott obtain the information provided in the ethics complaint through the help of elected officials and/or government officials/staff to intimidate, humiliate, and retaliate, etc. against private citizens?
Monica Parrott’s ethics complaint against Commissioner Kathie Gannon contain false statements that are libelous and defamatory. We request the opportunity to subpoena Parrott to give a sworn deposition concerning the accusations stated as fact in her ethics complaint. We are particularly interested in the involvement of a third party or parties in these malicious statements.
The statements involving Viola Davis and the Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter ministry involve:
• Defamation of character
• False accusations with total disregard of research
• Intention to defile our reputation of respect, adhering to high ethical standards, honesty and integrity
• Reckless disregard for the truth
We have proof of the following facts to correct the libelous and defamatory statements made in Kathie Gannon’s ethics complaint by Monica Parrott to include:
• Commissioner Kathie Gannon has not paid Viola Davis and/or Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter “one penny” in money or any other in-kind financial support…period.
• Viola Davis and/or Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter has never received illegal financial support of any kind to include “kickbacks” from Commissioner Gannon or any other party.
• Viola Davis, co-founder of Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter, is not presently a member of PRISM due to the lack of payment of membership dues for over 1+ years. However, Davis thanks Monica Parrott for reminding her to renew her membership.
• Viola Davis is not part of a nonprofit “whose 501 (c) (3) status has been revoked by the IRS for non-compliance with its reporting requirement”.
• Viola Davis and the Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter ministry are not political operatives of Commissioner Kathie Gannon or any other elected official.
• Viola Davis is a critical care registered nurse (License number – RN101605 issued 9/18/1991) with over 20+ years’ experience in MICU, SICU, and CCU. As a Veteran with an honorable discharge from the military, I, Viola Davis, am a commissioned officer trained in combat nursing. The statement, “questionable income” is libelous and defamatory especially since Monica Parrott continuously references illegal activity throughout the ethics complaint.
• Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter, Inc. was registered with Georgia Secretary of State on 4/19/2002. On April 21, 2004, a U.S. federal trademark registration (serial number 78405400) was filed for Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter. We have spent over 12 years earning the respect of the community. We are known for our research, advocacy, and educating the public on serious social and political issues. We are a government watchdog organization/ministry. We analyze the manner in which taxpayer funds are spent and disseminate the results to the public with the purpose of encouraging fiduciary responsibility amongst elected officials. (View the Link)
A federal complaint was filed by Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter with the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, Office of the Inspector General, United State Attorney General and the Department of Revenue on September 2013:
Ethics complaints were filed against Kelvin Walton, Nina Hall, Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee:
We also recently attended a meeting with the offices of the federal and state Inspector Generals. We requested information/documents on protection for witnesses and government employees with knowledge of illegal activity, wrongdoing, waste, mismanagement, abuse, etc. We have an obligation to educate the public and government employees who fear acts of intimidation and retaliation.
We’re afraid this ethics complaint filed by Monica Parrott is an example of retaliation for attempting to hold our elected officials and government agencies accountable. The libelous and defamatory statements within the ethics complaint are acts of retaliation.
We request a full investigation into the method that Monica Parrott obtained her information if no Open Records Request was ever filed. Once again, we view such acts as retaliation.
If this request is denied in whole or in part, we ask that you cite in writing the specific statutory exemption upon which you have relied, as required by law, we also ask that you release all separate portions of otherwise exempt material. Please waive any costs associated with this request, or first inform us about such costs as required by Georgia Law.
As you know, the Law requires a response by you within three business days of your receipt of this Open Records Request and provides sanctions for non-compliance. I look forward to hearing from you. I can be reached at 770-256-0034 or via email at UnhappyTaxpayers@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Viola Davis
Community Missionary
Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee Ethics Complaint and Amendment
MEMORANDUM
TO: DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS
FROM: VIOLA DAVIS WITH UNHAPPY TAXPAYER AND VOTER
SUBJECT: 1ST AMENDMENT TO THE ETHICS COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST COMMISSIONER SHARON BARNES SUTTON AND ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST JUDY BROWNLEE
DATE: 6/17/2014
CC: RESTORE DEKALB, JOEL EDWARDS, UNHAPPY TAXPAYER AND VOTER AND ALL APPROPRIATE PARTIES
I, Viola Davis and Restore DeKalb submit this 1st amendment to the ethics complaint filed against Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton (District 4) for the following violations:
(1) Violation of the DeKalb County Code of Ethics
(2) Violation of Oath of Office
(3) Violation of the Public’s Trust
(4) Violation of the Law (alleged)
(5) Conflict of Interest
I also submit this Ethics Complaint against Judy Brownlee, Commissioner’s Sharon Barnes Sutton’s top aide, for violations of the DeKalb County government’s Code of Ethics.
The conduct, prohibited by the DeKalb County Code of Ethics, that Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee violated include:
• Directly or indirectly request, receive, or agree to receive anything of value which may influence or be perceived to influence, the member’s official actions.
• Use his/her position to secure unwarranted privileges for himself or herself;
• Engage in any activity or transaction that is prohibited by a law that is applicable to him/her by virtue of being a member of the governing authority;
• Etc. (Any other violations that the Ethics Board may find)
I have asked for the support of Restore DeKalb which includes Joel Edwards. We issue this ethics complaint to ensure there is transparency, ethics, and accountability in DeKalb County government. We have joined as a coalition to hold elected officials accountable for violating the public’s trust. We will welcome other taxpayers and voters who strive to restore public trust once we have the vote of the executive accountability board.
I will use the following documentation and video as evidence:
1. The AJC article, “Officials spend with little oversight”, by Johnny Edwards (May 25, 2014) – Mr. Edwards did an excellent article in the AJC which provided the following evidence to demonstrate Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton violated the Code of Ethics and included evidence below:
• Sharon Barnes Sutton’s P-card purchases
• Sharon Barnes Sutton’s cardholder agreement
• Sharon Barnes Sutton’s P-card travel agreement
• Audit of District 4 Purchase Card use
• Criminal Trespass and Simple Battery Police Report
• Open Records Request Documentation on Commission District 4 contract particularly with H.S.I Systems & Consultants, Inc., RightThink Associates, Inc., and Empowerment Planners and Consulting Group. (Conflict of Interest Section)
2. Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee (according to the above article) used their P-card or purchasing cards for personal use which is prohibited to include:
• Barnes Sutton and her top aide put $75,000 on their purchasing cards since 2011, followed by Boyer’s office with $58,000.
• Barnes Sutton was missing receipts for more than $45,000 of purchases.
• Barnes Sutton also topped fellow commissioners in spending at retailers, such as Office Depot, Staples, Walmart, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Tuesday Morning, and Hobby Lobby.
• Barnes Sutton’s office spent about $24,000 at retailers for office equipment such as HDTV and $700 laptop, etc., while Boyer’s office spent about $19,500.
• Barnes Sutton used the Visa card (P-card) to pay a $130 speeding ticket, which she apparently received in January 2013. (see attachment for completed document)
• 8. Conflict of Interest – Sharon Barnes Sutton hired companies owned by her boyfriend (former), Warren Mosby and her executive assistant, Judy Brownlee, to perform duties and receive payments from the District 4 office despite the conflict of interest to include:
• H.S.I Systems & Consultants, Inc. is owned by Warren Mosby and Mosby received several contracts from Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton to include:
$1,336.00 – Design of program for YLA Kick-off
$4,212.00 – District 4 Commissioner Newsletter
$10,000.00 – BOC Transition Advisory Capacity (see attachment)
• RightThink Associates, Inc. is owned by Warren Mosby and Mosby received contracts from Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton to include (alleged):
$20,000.00 – Professional Services for District 4
• Empowerment Planners and Consulting Group is owned by Judy Brownlee (Barnes Sutton’s top aid) and Brownlee received contracts and payment from Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton. We will provide the full list of contracts once we can verify the date Judy Brownlee started working for Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton (alleged). The partial list include:
$1,000 – Professional Consulting and Administration Services
$1,125 – Professional Consulting and Administration Services
9. Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee abused and allegedly violated county policy and local law by using the Purchasing Cards for personal use and neglected to reimburse the county for the full amount of money. The WSB Channel 2 investigation on retail spending among DeKalb Commissioners identified the following violations to include:
1. Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee had 511 total purchases which added up to $75,583.33, to include 178 receipts or 34.8%.
2. The purchases with receipts total $29,901.63 and the purchases without receipts total $45,681.70. (see the attachment for complete information)
“Red Flag”: Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton deliberately and willfully misused her P-card dating back to October 2009, evidenced by:
A. Sharon Barnes Sutton was formally notified about her misuse of the P-card in two documents from Internal Audit & Licensing dated April 2, 2010 and October 12, 2011 (See Attachment). She was notified by Eugene O’Mard in 2010 and the document was sent to Dr. Michael Bell, Keith Barker, Kelvin Walton and Dale Dague (See Attachment). Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton’s office of BOC District 4 did not comply with DeKalb County P-Card policies and procedures. (see the attachment for complete information)
As a coalition, we call for an action plan to hold elected officials accountable and ensure their aides uphold policy and procedures, and the law to include:
• Request a 5-10 year audit (2003-2013) of Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton’s P-card use to evaluate if this was truly a mistake or a pattern of misuse which substantiates a violation of the law. If the evidence shows a pattern of abuse, we demand Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and others be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
• Require Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee to repay all monies for inappropriate charges on the P-card and/or charges paid by the county.
• Request the P-card use of every County Commissioner and their aides to evaluate if these actions are a systematic problem that extends to more than one or two commissioners (please include the Interim CEO Lee May and his aides as they represented Commission District 5);
• Request the information be forwarded to the District Attorney for prosecution if the Board of Ethic determines violation or violations of the law;
• Request the policy for P-card use be revised to include the Commissioners and all Board of Commissioners’ staff;
• Remove Sharon Barnes Sutton from office and terminate the employment of Judy Brownlee with DeKalb County and bar them both from ever working for DeKalb County in the future.
I, Viola Davis and Restore DeKalb, submit this Ethics Complaint and the amendment with the support of Restore DeKalb to hold Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee accountable for their alleged illegal actions.
Sincerely,
Viola Davis
Taxpayer and Voter in Commission District 4
Attachments Included
Amendment 1 to Ethics Complaint against Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton and Judy Brownlee and Documentation Attachment.
Confidential
GOP State School Superintendent Runoff: Mike Buck vs Richard Woods
GOP State School Superintendent Runoff: Mike Buck vs Richard Woods
On Saturday, June 07, 2014, the Cobb GOP hosted a full one-hour debate between the two runoff candidates for Georgia State School Superintendent, Richard Woods and Mike Buck. It turned out to be a very informative event, highlighting very distinct differences in the candidates’ positions.
Since there were only two candidates, they both had plenty of time to express their viewpoints on many topics,
such as:
• The primary role of the State School Superintendent and how this person interacts with the Governor’s office, the State Legislature and the State Board of Education
• Common Core Standards and the new Georgia Measures of Academic Progress (GMAP)
• Amount of class time spent in testing
• Teacher evaluations
• Parents’ rights
• Charter Schools
• The QBE Formula and other funding questions
• Zero tolerance or common sense
• Guns in schools
To view the entire video of the debate, click here
Mike Buck: http://www.buckforsuperintendent.com
Richard Woods: http://www.woodsforsuper.com
Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint – Amendment 1
Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint – Amendment 1
Viola Davis
909 Rays Road
Stone Mountain, Ga. 30083
June 9, 2014
DeKalb County Board of Ethics
Clark Harrison Building
330 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Dear DeKalb County Board of Ethics:
I, Viola Davis with Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter, submit this 1st amendment to the ethics complaint to restore public trust against Kelvin Walton, former Director and Chief Procurement Officer of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting and Nina Hall, Former Assistant to CEO Burrell Ellis, and former Project Manager with the Watershed Department.
I presented evidence during an executive meeting of Restore DeKalb on Friday, May 29, 2014 which included documentation from the grand jury case against former CEO Burrell Ellis. I have received the full support of Restore DeKalb to submit a Restore Public Trust Ethics Complaint – Amendment 1 against Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall concerning the public corruption case related to purchasing and contracts within the Watershed Department.
I submit an amendment to include sworn statements of both Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall from the grand jury report located in the document titled, “State vs. W. Burrell Ellis Supplement to Supplemental Motion to Suppress the Search of Mr. Ellis’ residence and Mr. Ellis’ Office and Seizure of Evidence and Motion to Suppress Wire Communications and Text Messages”. The document has 170 pages.
The documented evidence is placed in bullet points to highlight important testimony that will support the DeKalb County Board of Ethics removing Walton and Hall from the taxpayers’ payroll. Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall need to be remove from the taxpayers’ payroll for following reasons:
• Kelvin Walton willfully lied multiple times during his May Special Purpose Grand Jury Testimony.
• Kelvin Walton admitted under oath that he lied to the Grand Jury.
• Kelvin Walton refused to answer 343 questions for fear of self-incrimination. http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/dekalb-official-refuses-answer-343-questions-fear-/nfDKt/
• Kelvin Walton funneled cash from vendors to a county employee who served on approximately fifteen selection committees for DeKalb County projects. The employees name is Nina Hall, formerly the executive assistant to CEO Burrell Ellis.
• Kelvin Walton accepted a gift/service from a vendor of cash value without paying for the service.
• Nina Hall first denied ever receiving gifts or cash from vendors under oath. However, she eventually confessed to receiving cash from Kelvin Walton and allegedly Michael Hightower.
In the document dated May 7, 2014, Attorney Arthur Leach stated there was no actual factual allegations against his client (Kelvin L. Walton) in our complaint. Leach also stated Kelvin L. Walton cannot engage in the process until he testifies in the pending case involving the former CEO of DeKalb County. (See attachment)
The DeKalb County Board of Ethics must be made aware of the following facts concerning Kelvin Walton and Nina Hall’s testimonies within the grand jury document identified above to include:
I. Kelvin L. Walton Testimony:
a. Kelvin Walton takes the oath and solemnly swears or affirms that the evidence he gave the Grand Jury on his presentment shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him God. (Page 190 — Defendant’s exhibit D)
b. Juror Number 10 asked Kelvin Walton, “Does this leave the county open for lawsuits, I mean, liable for”. Kelvin Walton said, “It does, ma’am”. (Page 225)
c. Kelvin Walton said, “We are not in the business of paying anyone that’s even related to somebody that work for the County.” Despite stating this fact, Walton allowed Jeff Walker, brother of a county worker named John Walker, receive contract payments from vendors. (Page 148)
d. Kelvin Walton claimed he was not aware Brown and Caldwell paid Jeff Walker when they had the large mapping contract with the county. (Page 150)
e. Walton claimed he was not aware that Brown and Caldwell was forced to add Hadi Haeri to their mapping contract until he met with Francis Kung’u and Ted Rhinehart. (Page 151)
f. During Walton’s first testimony to the Grand Jury, he claimed that he never had anyone perform services at his home. (Page 151)
II. Kelvin Walton’s Second Appearance before the Grand Jury:
a. Kelvin Walton takes the oath and signed the written oath. (Page 104)
b. Kelvin Walton admits there was something that he was not truthful about with the Grand Jury previously. (Page 105)
c. Walton said, “First of all, I want to apologize to the Grand Jury. I was not, you know, as truthful as I should have been the time that I was here.”
d. Walton said, “As it relates to the matter with Paul Champion, I did meet him in the parking lot at Walmart, but I did not solicit any funds from him. Paul Champion did cut down trees for me and I believe that he was trying to hold that against me because the County was not paying him for the bill that the County owed him (Champion) for the trees that he said that he cut down.” (Page 106)
e. Walton claimed Paul Champion offered him cash and he said that he (Walton) did not operate like that. (Page 107)
f. Kelvin Walton said, “But again, I want to apologize. I was not truthful. I was nervous. I had never done this before. Again, I’ve been in the business 20 years and never faced this type of situation and I lied and I apologize for that.” (Page 108)
III. Kelvin Walton’s testimony dealt with contractors under investigation and controversial events within DeKalb County government to include:
a. Kelvin Walton said, “Then Neville Anderson, whoever he is from some company, called Morris Williams this weekend and said that Jeff Walker and Dr. Taylor called him and said, did Morris ever ask you for any money, we need to lead the DA to somebody else. And the young man said, I don’t know what you’re talking about”. (Page 163) …”Tony Taylor used to work for a company called Parsons.” (Page 163-165)
b. Walton discusses a bogus company on page 171.
c. Kelvin Walton said that the last time he spoke with CEO Jones was right after he got out of office. He saw him at the Arizona Restaurant in Lithonia. (Page 182)
d. Kelvin Walton and Vernon Jones are in the same fraternity. Walton met David Gallemore in Morris William’s office during the Jones Administration. David is a fraternity brother as well. (Page 183-184)
e. Morris Williams said, “I heard that they asked David Gallemore about a letter, Kelvin, and I said what letter…He said, you know, they were bad mouthing my company, telling – they were going around telling other companies don’t utilize G4Enterprise”. (Page 185-186)
f. Kelvin Walton acknowledged Mr. Gallemore had an inappropriate relationship with Jeff Walker’s wife. Walton went on to confirm that the inappropriate relationship was a sexual relationship. (Page 187)
g. Walton said the following concerning Richard Stogner, “Richard Stogner and Samit Roy, who is the owner of Scicom, went to see former Governor Roy Barnes the other day. They had a meeting with him because I guess he’s going to represent them as this thing develops. And they wanted me to come, you know because they – that I was going to need representation as well. And I told them, no, I’m Okay. And I’ve got things to do on the job anyway. You know, I’m going to tell the truth. I just don’t feel that I need a lawyer right now.” (Page 187-188)
h. Walton went on to say, “They said, okay, you’re sure? So they went and Roy Barnes told them – According to Richard after they got back – said former Governor Roy Barnes said that they didn’t have anything to worry about because based on what they told him, he didn’t see anything wrong with him using federal contracts splitting them at $49,000, and stuff like that. He just didn’t see the issue that he was going to call DA James and talk to him about the situation, to let him know that this is – it’s really nothing. So, in other words, just trying to get him out of it.” (Page 188)
i. Kelvin Walton explained how he and Richard Stogner broke contracts down to $49,000 (Pages 188-190). And he (Richard Stogner) knows that Samit Roy—Scicom is a good company, they do good work. And- but other companies have complained about never getting some of the IT work. (Page 188-191)
IV. Nina Hall Testimony:
a. Sworn testimony began on page 152.
b. Nina Hall stated she was the assistant to DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and worked for Ellis four years in his capacity as the CEO, and a year and a half – he was a county commissioner. (Page 152)
c. Hall stated that she “served on committees with the community development group in terms of the grant process in the county, giving out grants to nonprofit organizations. And I have served on selection committees”. (Page 154)
d. Hall served on committees related to the procurement process for about two years. (Page 154)
e. Kelvin Walton presented Hall the opportunity to serve on some select committees. (Page 155)
f. Hall stated she knew Walton for six years and that they were friends. (Page 156)
g. Hall went out to dinner with vendors. She went to dinner with Kelvin Walton and Barry Bennett, where Bennett paid for the dinner. (Page 233)
h. Hall initially stated that she was “not aware of any vendor or a vendor representative indirectly giving a gift, be it, a physical gift or a monetary gift to any county employee, starting with the CEO, and all the way down”. (Page 234)
i. Nina Hall said, “Well, I mean my friend Kelvin, he gave me some money to help me out with something and he did say that he got it from some of his –some of his friends. Hall acknowledges that she received money from Kelvin Walton and a vendor friend allegedly Michael Hightower. (Page 235)
In the name of transparency, ethics, and accountability, we submit this ethics complaint amendment to restore public trust.
Sincerely,
Viola Davis
Community Missionary
See Attachment
http://www.scribd.com/doc/229056323/State-vs-W-Burrell-Ellis-Supplement-to-Supplemental-Motion