Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Charges dropped, Ramey reinstated
By Chris McCaa Staff writer
Mountain Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Earnest H. "Bucky" Woods last week signed an order dismissing the two felony charges against Mayor Tom Ramey Sr.
The order was filed Monday in the Rabun County Clerk of Court's office.
The order, submitted to Woods by special prosecutor David Fowler, effectively ends the case against Ramey, who had been under voluntary suspension since Sept. 24. Gov. Sonny Perdue signed an executive order Monday immediately reinstating Ramey as mayor.
"I'm glad to hear it," said Ramey on Oct. 1 from Limon, Colo. "We felt like (a dismissal of the charges) would take place."
Ramey, who is currently on a three-week vacation, said the judge's order dismissing the charges came as no surprise.
"In the first place, I'm not guilty of anything," he said. "I'm anxious to get back and get going."
Ramey was indicted Sept. 3 by a Rabun County grand jury on two counts of violating his oath of office. According to the court order, count one was dismissed because "it has been brought to the State's attention" that the code of ethics ordinance cited in the indictment was improperly passed.
Even if the ordinances were passed properly, "the provision of the ordinance relied upon in support of count 2 of this indictment is unconstitutionally vague when being used to form the basis of a criminal charge," states the order submitted by Fowler, deputy director with legal services for the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia.
City Attorney Davis Bauman refused to comment on the new development. "I'm not talking to you," he said.
Fowler said the court order spoke for itself.
"Unless I get prosecutable evidence of a crime, I don't have any other way to go forward," Fowler said.
Andrew Lampros, Ramey's lawyer, also refused comment. "I think everything that needs to be said is said in the filings," he said.
Clayton City Council holds a regular meeting Tuesday. Ramey had been scheduled to appear before Woods that same day for a motion hearing.
The first count in the indictment had charged Ramey with violating his oath by requesting City Clerk Pat Bussiere to order a set of tires for the vehicle of his wife, Marvenia "Beanie" Ramey. An affidavit signed by Bussiere was a factor in the first charge being dropped.
Bussiere's affidavit noted that she took the minutes when council passed its code of ethics ordinance July 12, 2005. Council adopted a new version March 29, 2006, one day before Ramey told Bussiere to order the tires. The superseding ordinance also was passed on the same day it was presented to council, which did not waive the reading of the ordinance. On no other date was there the required second reading of the ordinance.
City Manager Cissy Henry said the city's failure to correctly adopt the ordinance did not exonerate the mayor.
"This doesn't prove that no crimes were committed," Henry said. "Clayton just has to work on our ordinances, just like we do on the charter."
In count two, Ramey was charged with violating his oath of office by "creating a conflict of interest" when he negotiated for his sons the purchase of land from George and Loma Pressley over which a sewer line was to be placed. The charge alleged Ramey created the appearance of using his office for personal gain, also a violation of the city's code of ethics ordinance.
Previous court decisions held that one must be charged with an underlying felony offense before a charge of oath of office can be sustained. Otherwise, a police officer or public official could be charged with a felony based on a traffic offense.
Mayor Pro Tem Roy Quilliams, who requested he be contacted by e-mail instead of by phone, said city business would proceed smoothly when Ramey returned to office.
"I believe council will continue to work hard and try to do what is in the best interest for Clayton and its citizens," Quilliams said.
Councilwoman Debbie Chisholm, who also requested she be contacted via e-mail, wrote that council would continue to "work diligently and ethically, despite the incessant sideshow."
The order was filed Monday in the Rabun County Clerk of Court's office.
The order, submitted to Woods by special prosecutor David Fowler, effectively ends the case against Ramey, who had been under voluntary suspension since Sept. 24. Gov. Sonny Perdue signed an executive order Monday immediately reinstating Ramey as mayor.
"I'm glad to hear it," said Ramey on Oct. 1 from Limon, Colo. "We felt like (a dismissal of the charges) would take place."
Ramey, who is currently on a three-week vacation, said the judge's order dismissing the charges came as no surprise.
"In the first place, I'm not guilty of anything," he said. "I'm anxious to get back and get going."
Ramey was indicted Sept. 3 by a Rabun County grand jury on two counts of violating his oath of office. According to the court order, count one was dismissed because "it has been brought to the State's attention" that the code of ethics ordinance cited in the indictment was improperly passed.
Even if the ordinances were passed properly, "the provision of the ordinance relied upon in support of count 2 of this indictment is unconstitutionally vague when being used to form the basis of a criminal charge," states the order submitted by Fowler, deputy director with legal services for the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia.
City Attorney Davis Bauman refused to comment on the new development. "I'm not talking to you," he said.
Fowler said the court order spoke for itself.
"Unless I get prosecutable evidence of a crime, I don't have any other way to go forward," Fowler said.
Andrew Lampros, Ramey's lawyer, also refused comment. "I think everything that needs to be said is said in the filings," he said.
Clayton City Council holds a regular meeting Tuesday. Ramey had been scheduled to appear before Woods that same day for a motion hearing.
The first count in the indictment had charged Ramey with violating his oath by requesting City Clerk Pat Bussiere to order a set of tires for the vehicle of his wife, Marvenia "Beanie" Ramey. An affidavit signed by Bussiere was a factor in the first charge being dropped.
Bussiere's affidavit noted that she took the minutes when council passed its code of ethics ordinance July 12, 2005. Council adopted a new version March 29, 2006, one day before Ramey told Bussiere to order the tires. The superseding ordinance also was passed on the same day it was presented to council, which did not waive the reading of the ordinance. On no other date was there the required second reading of the ordinance.
City Manager Cissy Henry said the city's failure to correctly adopt the ordinance did not exonerate the mayor.
"This doesn't prove that no crimes were committed," Henry said. "Clayton just has to work on our ordinances, just like we do on the charter."
In count two, Ramey was charged with violating his oath of office by "creating a conflict of interest" when he negotiated for his sons the purchase of land from George and Loma Pressley over which a sewer line was to be placed. The charge alleged Ramey created the appearance of using his office for personal gain, also a violation of the city's code of ethics ordinance.
Previous court decisions held that one must be charged with an underlying felony offense before a charge of oath of office can be sustained. Otherwise, a police officer or public official could be charged with a felony based on a traffic offense.
Mayor Pro Tem Roy Quilliams, who requested he be contacted by e-mail instead of by phone, said city business would proceed smoothly when Ramey returned to office.
"I believe council will continue to work hard and try to do what is in the best interest for Clayton and its citizens," Quilliams said.
Councilwoman Debbie Chisholm, who also requested she be contacted via e-mail, wrote that council would continue to "work diligently and ethically, despite the incessant sideshow."
 |
||
| Georgia Power holding lake levels |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of theclaytontribune.com.
Jon wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:58 AM:
" John, if you actually believe that a person is guilty and should go to jail just because you think they're guilty, we're glad you don't live in Clayton anymore, too. Keep your sympathy for yourself. Clayton is still part of the United States where individual rights are protected. "
Dumb n Dumber wrote on Oct 9, 2008 2:22 PM:
" Looks like the saga of the good ole boy system in Clayton continues! "
jamie wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:49 PM:
" I am really saddened by this outcome. With everything that has happened during his term, I hope people think before they vote next time. We need a person that is not out for his own financial gain. "
Ronnie wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:34 AM:
" That just goes to show how messed up the city of Clayton is. You can get away with anything around here. This county and city are a joke. Depending on your last name around here you can do what you want and get away with. I can't wait to get out of this county. "
SV Good Ole Boy wrote on Oct 11, 2008 10:57 AM:
" I am a Sky Valley resident. A handfull of us are attempting to reverse the course of progress here and be just like Clayton. Councilors eliminated the good-ole-boy police force and modernized it but we want it to be just like Mayberry. We want good roads, water, etc., but we are too cheap to pay for it. That's just the way it is for us obstructionists! "
BJ wrote on Oct 13, 2008 6:31 AM:
" It's is our responsibility to vote people out of office if we are not satisified with the job they are doing. Remember that when it comes time to choose our leaders. "
Hunter wrote on Oct 15, 2008 8:35 PM:
" With so much political bashing going on, what decent, qualified person would want to run? Not me! Lately, all I have heard is what our politicians are doing wrong. I'm tired of it! Our government is not run by one person. We are supposed to have accounting and safety nets to catch the few bad seeds and we do catch them. Think again about being critical. When we are electing the President or, in this case, the Mayor, we only have two choices. We chose a savvy business man (even if you don't like him, you know he's made alot of $) and the most qualified man for the job on the ballot that day. I wouldn't want people taking shots at me like Mayor Ramey has had. Would you? Could you stand up to it? Probably not. "
John wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:52 AM: