Former Sheriff, local Navy football hero sworn in as interim Douglas County Commissioners

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — One day after Governor Brian Kemp appointed two interim Douglas County Commissioners, former Sheriff Phil Miller and Navy veteran Ricky Dobbs, Jr. were sworn into office.

The two men were sworn in by Superior Court Chief Justice William McClain Friday afternoon. They will be filling the roles of two commissioners suspended after being indicted on bid-rigging charges.

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Miller and Dobbs will fill in for Chairwoman Romona Jackson Jones and Commissioner Henry Mitchell, who were two of five people indicted in February after a Georgia Bureau of Investigation found problems with a contract awarded to a Georgia company in 2018 to provide janitorial services for the County’s Annex Building.

Along with Jackson Jones and Mitchell, Tax Commissioner Greg Baker, Purchasing Director Bill Peacock and the owner of S&A Express, Anthony Knight, were also named in the indictment. All five are charged with one count of Conspiracy in Restraint of Free and Open Competition in Transactions. Jackson Jones faces an additional charge of False Statements.

In April, the Governor’s office issued an Executive Order announcing the suspension of Jackson Jones and Mitchell from the Douglas County Commission.

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Jackson Jones’s attorney stated to Channel 2 Action News, expressing her disappointment in the Order:

“Dr. Jackson Jones vehemently denies all the allegations currently pending against her and continues to strongly proclaim her innocence to these charges. The Chairman looks forward to the opportunity for vindication in a court of law once all the facts can be presented. She respects the rule of law and understands the judicial process required to bring this matter to a successful final disposition that will allow her to resume service to the citizens of her community as Chairman of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners.”

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Miller will be the acting Commission Chairman at the County’s next meeting. He was elected sheriff in 2001 and served in that role until his retirement in 2016.

Dobbs, a former Douglas County High School football player, served in the Navy and was a standout quarterback for the academy. In 2009, he tied an NCAA record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. In 2011, he became a full-time Naval officer and served aboard the U.S.S. Oscar Austin as part of his tour of duty.

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