Yeager’s accusers fire back

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Former political challenger Scott Smith and campaign supporter Lynn Bradley say they were not out to get even when they filed a complaint against Coweta County Sheriff Mike Yeager less than a month before the primary election, but were only trying to hold the sheriff accountable for his actions.

The men allege that Yeager used Sheriff’s Department assets for political campaign purposes during the 2004 election and they have photographs and sworn affidavits to prove it.

In June, the two Newnan men and another Smith supporter, Scott Ruppert of Senoia, filed a complaint with the State Ethics Commission in Atlanta.

The commission held a preliminary hearing Feb. 25 and ruled a formal hearing would be in order. The date has not been announced.

“After a consolidated preliminary hearing on five complaints, the Commission found reasonable grounds to believe that the Ethics in Government Act had been violated and all matters were set down for an Administrative Procedure Act hearing,” the Commission said.

The men allege Yeager committed multiple violations of Georgia Code 21-2-3. Some of the claims overlap, however among the charges Smith alleged re-elect Yeager signs were posted on county property including the sheriff’s office and the East Coweta Precinct.

“The photo that you see there was up at the precinct for months, not days, not hours,” Smith said pointing to an unauthenticated photo of the sign. “These are accurate pictures. We have not fabricated anything. I can take a polygraph. Be glad to.”

Smith also alleged a Yeager campaign banner appeared on an unofficial Coweta County Sheriff’s Office Web site. That Web site linked to an official Web site used to pay traffic fines to the county.

Smith displayed an unauthenticated copy of the campaign banner that allegedly appeared on the site dated July 8, 2004.

“We called him on that and in fact the county attorney made him put the disclaimer link in place after we called him on that,” Smith said.

Smith told the Commission he witnessed other alleged ethical no-nos.

“I testified I saw a re-elect Mike Yeager campaign bumper sticker on the vehicle that he drove that the county paid for,” Smith said. “I testified that I saw him at the Fourth of July barbecue in Moreland, Ga.”

Smith alleges employees campaigned for the sheriff at the event.

“He testified he paid for the table to re-elect Mike Yeager,” Smith said. “At the table, he had paid county employees that were working for the county that day that had county equipment and they stood there for hours.”

An attempt to reach Yeager for comment through his secretary was unsuccessful, but Yeager said in an earlier interview at first he thought an “overzealous” campaign supporter hung the sign, but he later felt he was “set up.” Yeager indicated other people had access to that precinct.

But Smith contended Yeager is still responsible.

“If you work for me and you break the law, I’m responsible,” Smith said. “You’re responsible and I’m responsible.”

Yeager added many of the claims were quickly addressed and he never had a repeat occurrence. He said he did give the printer his work e-mail address that appeared on his campaign brochures, but he said it was a mistake.

“There was no malice,” Yeager said.

Yeager said the e-mail issue was not a part of the original complaint. He volunteered this information. He said he loved the department and has run the department for 16 years with “the highest degree of integrity,” and would continue to do so.

“A man of integrity made that kind of mistake,” Smith responded. “He wouldn’t mail them out. He would redo them,”

Yeager beat Smith during the July 20 primary nearly 3-to-1. The sheriff received 12,039 votes, while Smith garnered 4,526 votes.

Yeager said Smith had “sour grapes” and is trying to tarnish his name. He said he plans to speak to a lawyer to see what recourse he has.

But Smith disagreed.

“This man said I have sour grapes. I’m elated at the outcome,” Smith said. “I feel like I came out 10-foot tall and bulletproof. I maintained my integrity.”

Bradley, 58, said he also witnessed ethical violations.

The men contend campaign balloons were tied to a county vehicle and a remote control car used to teach children. Bradley and Smith said they would take a polygraph test to back up their claims.

“From all this you can gather there’s a pattern here,” Bradley said. “There needs to be a level playing field and that’s what the state ethics laws try to do. He can’t be above the law. He must be within the law because if people see he’s operating above the law people will lose respect for him.”

Bradley said he was unsure what prompted the Commission to grant a formal hearing on the matter. But he said he will be satisfied whatever the Commission decides.

“If they decide to do nothing, I’ll be fine with it,” Bradley said. “As a citizen, I will never regret doing the right thing.”


		Friday, Apr. 22, 2005