UPDATE | Augusta leaders vote in new Dis. 5 Commissioner

(WRDW)
Published: Dec. 4, 2018 at 7:24 PM EST
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Tuesday, December 19, 2018

(News 12 at 6 o'clock)

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT)—They say third time is the charm, in the case of District 5 seat, it’s proven to be true. On Tuesday, commissioners voted Johnny Few to fill a month’s long vacancy.

Johnny Few, endearingly called “Rev. Few,” is a 73-year-old with family ties to Burke County. Few is not currently the Reverend of any church but he has served as a pastor to many local churches in previous years. Service is life-long for him. Few is a Vietnam War Veteran and a longtime Marine. With the same dedication and passion, he plans to serve the people of District 5.

On Nov. 4, News 12 learned Commissioner Andrew Jefferson died after collapsing during a church service at Good Shepherd Baptist. The city took time to grieve the loss that came both as heavy and sudden. Once December began, leaders took on the big task of filling Jefferson shoes—and seat.

Johnny Few was the first of three names mentioned in the initial discussions for an interim commissioner. During the first round of talks, each of the three nominees failed to get six or more votes.

This week, Few was voted in by 6 to 3. He will be sworn in as interim commissioner in January 2019. Additionally, there will be a special election in March 2019 for a commissioner to officially complete the rest of Jefferson’s term.


Tuesday, December 4, 2018

News 12 at 6/NBC at 7

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Augusta city leaders are trying to name a replacement for Andrew Jefferson as the district five commissioner.

Jefferson died after collapsing at church last month.

They named nominations for three people and it was not something the public knew about because it happened last minute.

In fact, some of the commissioners didn't even know the three people nominated.

Originally, the agenda was supposed to just talk about the vacancy and planning possible fill-ins.

But then commission decided to formally vote on each name: Johnny Few, Barnard Harper and Carlton Howard.

In the end, a vote for each nominee failed.

“The individuals of that district do not have a representative and that's one of the things we have to make sure those individuals are taken care of during that time when they don't have a particular commissioner,” said Dennis Williams, of the Augusta commission.

The special election to fill the district five seat will be on March 19.

That leaves about three months so, in theory, commission could keep nominating people every week to vote on until March comes.

But leaders hope they don't have to keep circling.