GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County Commissioner Chairman Charlotte Nash said she never saw this coming.
"Indescribably disappointed and shocked," Nash told Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh.
The political scandal involving now-former Commissioner Shirley Lasseter sent shock waves throughout Gwinnett County.
On Thursday, Lasseter pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting more than $36,000 in bribes in exchange for her vote to rezone land for a pawn shop.
Prosecutors said her son, John Fanning, and Hall County businessman Carl "Skip" Cain planned to use the pawn shop as a front to traffic drugs and launder the drug money.
Nash took office on the heels of another bribery scandal. She made it her mission to be transparent and restore trust. She said that mission continues.
"This has to raise questions about the situation in Gwinnett. It means we're going to have to work that much harder," Nash said.
In October 2010, former Commissioner Kevin Kenerly was accused of accepting a million dollars in bribes to sway land deals. Former Chairman Charles Bannister stepped down to avoid an indictment for perjury.
Nash believes she has made strides to right the ship but acknowledges the Lasseter deal is a setback.
U.S. Attorney Sally Yates and Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said their investigation into Gwinnett County corruption continues.
"I'd hate to think that there is anything else left to find. But quite honestly if there is, it needs to be found and it needs to be dealt with. We can't put this behind us until that happens," Nash said.
Impact on Briscoe Field
On Thursday, Yates said Lasseter may have been selling her vote on a plan to add commercial flights at Briscoe Field.
"She was certainly having discussions about how she might be able to use [her] vote and get some money for it," Yates said.
Yates believes that never materialized for the former commissioner.
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The discovery that Lasseter considered shopping her airport vote has fueled an already heated debate.
"One has to figure, 'Is there money involved?" homeowner Larry Yates (no relation to Sally) said.
Larry Yates is among a growing number of people opposed to expanding Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville.
Plans have been on the table for two and a half years to add commercial flights and longer runways.
"It really will ruin our quality of life, and our property values have already been suffering," Larry Yates said.
"Its landlocked by neighborhoods, churches, schools," homeowner Gaye McNeil said.
Residents against expansion believe they have a strong argument based on facts.
Many have wondered why after all this time, the debate is still alive.
"The kind of crazy thing for me is that what's so obvious and backed up by facts is so controversial," McNeil said.
In a statement from Fly Gwinnett Foward, they said, "Recent events surrounding a Gwinnett County Commissioner have saddened all of us as Gwinnett County residents.
"Fly Gwinnett Forward believes the most appropriate way to resolve the issue surrounding Briscoe Field is for the county to release the proposal it received and for a referendum to be placed on the November ballot by the Board of Commissioners regarding Briscoe’s future.
"This action would allow adequate time for the citizens to properly analyze the proposal on its own merits and enables all of the voting citizens of Gwinnett County to make an informed decision on this matter via the ballot box."
Commissioners could vote on the expansion plan as early as Tuesday.
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