A challenge to Commissioner Vera Jones’ qualifications and eligibility as a candidate for reelection has been filed at the Effingham County Board of Elections.
The challenge was filed Friday afternoon and is signed by Andrew Daniel Brantley and Jocelyn Brantley of a Guyton address.
The challenge is based on a payment to DM Jones Construction Company by the county in 2007. DM Jones Construction is owned by Vera Jones and her husband, Dennis Jones.
The challenge document states that “DM Jones Construction Company, Inc. and Vera Jones have failed to return the monies to the taxpayers of Effingham County, Georgia and continue to hold such public monies in the amount of $739,844.00 plus interest at the highest legal rate from February, 14, 2007 to the detriment of the taxpayers and citizens of Effingham County....”
Cited is Georgia law, O.C.G.A. 45-2-1, that states that any holder or receiver of public money of this state or county who has refused or failed “when called upon after reasonable opportunity to account for and pay over the same to the proper officer shall be ineligible to hold any civil office; and shall be sufficient reason for vacating any office held by such person.”
County officials have previously stated that Jones’ construction company was mistakenly reimbursed $739,844 in 2007 for the total cost of a sewer system at subdivisions Jones was developing, instead of being paid based on actual sewer impact fees collected. Former county administrator, David Crawley, previously estimated that about $200,000 of that was the amount that Jones should have received, based on the impact fees collected.
That left Jones more than $500,000 ahead. Crawley asked Jones to return the overpayment, but she refused.
The challenge states that the check was issued without approval of the commissioners and that Jones knew the check amount was an error.
The challengers ask for the opportunity to present evidence at a hearing to be held by the supervisor of elections as required by law.
Georgia allows challenges to be filed by eligible voters within two weeks of qualifying.
Jones was a member of the board of education in 2007 when the check was issued.
She was first elected to the board of county commissioners in 2010.
For more on the this story check back online at efffinghanow.com and check next week’s Effingham Now.