May 21, 2013
News 12 at 6 o'clock / Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW) -- Three commissioners could have possibly violated the city's ethics code. Commissioners Wayne Guilfoyle, Joe Jackson and Grady Smith have admitted their wrongdoing.
"So I did and billed it. I didn't think about and that's where it was. What do you want me to do?" Jackson said.
"Look how many people we feed. We buy strictly local, local equipment and other local stuff," Smith said.
"The bidding process started before I came on board," Guilfoyle said.
"If we got thieves and thugs around here or people that are dishonest, what are they sitting up here for?" Smith asked.
Perhaps voters want Smith to answer his own question. His company, Smith Brother Contractors, has done multiple city projects.
So has Jackson.
"I agree, you got me there. No big deal. Somebody asked me to do work through the Sheriff's Office, and I did it," Jackson said.
"I told my estimator to not do any business with any city affiliations," Guilfoyle said.
News 12 asked Jackson if he planned to give the money back.
"No, it's already been spent and that's been since 2008," Jackson said.
News 12 has uncovered pages and pages of documents that show the work Commissioners Jackson, Guilfoyle and Smith have done.
Actually, Smith's business received city checks the first month he was in office.
"In the meantime, we are going to have to address those issues and individuals clearly out of compliance," said Commissioner Alvin Mason.
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