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Wingo resigns

No reason given for athletic staffer’s departure

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Kevin Daniel Wingo has left the building.

The former athletic coordinator for the Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department resigned his post, department head Anita Godbee confirmed. Why Wingo quit remains a mystery.

“He turned in his resignation on Monday. His last day is today,” Godbee said Wednesday.

The son of Fayette County Tax Commissioner George Wingo tendered his resignation not long after questions surfaced about his employment status with the department regarding his July 7 arrest for driving with a license that had been suspended since October 2004.

Wingo’s license was automatically suspended Oct. 19, 2004 after an encounter with Fayetteville police, who pulled Wingo over during a traffic stop and asked him to take a blood alcohol test because they suspected him of drinking.

Wingo refused and was arrested on charges of failure to use turn signal, no license on person and driving under the influence. He was booked into the jail and released the same day after posting a $1,316 bond.

Wingo’s license was suspended in accordance with the state’s implied consent law as specified in Georgia Code 40-5-67.1 (b)(2). A warning is read to those who refuse the blood alcohol test in an effort to get the suspect to comply.

“Georgia law requires you to submit to state administered chemical tests of your blood, breath, urine, or other bodily substances for the purpose of determining if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” the implied consent law states. “If you refuse this testing, your Georgia driver´s license or privilege to drive on the highways of this state will be suspended for a minimum period of one year.”

A provisional driver’s license for work can be applied for and a license suspension can be appealed, but there is no guarantee it will be granted or reinstated, officials say.

Wingo did not have a provisional license.

Fayetteville police knew Wingo’s license was suspended and pulled him over on his way to work at 10:50 a.m. July 7. Wingo was arrested again and booked into the Fayette County Jail. He was released the same day after posting a $715 bond.

After learning of the incident, county officials indicated the second arrest likely wouldn’t affect his job status since it happened away from work. That’s why Wingo’s resignation remains a mystery.

Attempts to reach Wingo at the home owned by his father was unsuccessful. A call and e-mail sent to Wingo’s attorney, Glenn Howell of Fayetteville, also were not returned.

On Friday, the tax commissioner indicated his son was out of town and he instructed him not to comment on the case.

Wingo’s job required him to supervise various athletic events, which required a vehicle. When asked if it bothered Godbee that Wingo might have been driving with a suspended license for the past nine months, while working for the county, Godbee, Wingo’s former boss, responded, “He did not drive a county vehicle.”

Wingo’s job required that he have and maintain a valid driver’s license.

Meanwhile, human resources officials are searching for a replacement. Wingo’s former job, which comes with a starting salary of $31,636.95, is being advertised on the Fayette County government Web site.