After about nine months on the job, Greg Cannon had enough.
Cannon gave no prior notice to his peers when he announced at the beginning of the February 1 regular meeting of the Henry County Board of Commissioners that he was resigning from his District 3 seat effective immediately. He read from a prepared statement which he then handed to board chair Carlotta Harrell and left the meeting.
About two hours later, while the meeting was still in session, Cannon spoke with the Times by phone about his decision.
“I just can’t do what’s right,” he said, summing up his frustration with recent developments that he feels did not permit him to do what he was elected to do.
“This board is extremely dysfunctional. I don’t work well in that environment,” he said. “I am concerned because the people that serve on the Henry County Board of Commissioners are elected to govern this county, but it has become so politicized that you can’t do the job you were hired to do.
“I don’t think governance should be political. I think those people elected to these positions should be able to have conversations, even uncomfortable conversations, and still come to a consensus of what is best for Henry County. It should not be based on politics or race, but that seems to be a factor in all of the decision-making processes with this board. I don’t deal with that well.”
Cannon lamented that he sees a tremendous lack of respect shown from commissioners to county officials and even to each other. A prime example of that, he said, is the recent failure of the board to pass a pay raise for county employees that he believes they deserve.
“I don’t understand why we cannot wrap our heads around the fact that we are losing employees because of pay, and we are losing employees to city positions within our county, which just does not make sense to me. I don’t understand why we cannot rectify the problem,” he said. “We hired the county manager, we hired the director of finance, and we don’t respect or trust their decision-making process that led them to say we need to do this.”
The animosity within the board reached the point where Cannon said he was attacked verbally and accused of an ethics violation, as one or more fellow commissioners alleged that he was trying to use his position to benefit his business at Cannon Cleveland Funeral Home.
“I was told that I should never be allowed to serve a family of a fireman, policeman or county official because it was a conflict of interest,” he said.
Cannon was appointed last April on an interim basis after the death of his predecessor, Gary Barham, then won a June special election that put him in office until the end of this year, as the regular four-year term wraps up and the District 3 seat is on this year’s ballot. Thanks to legislation passed in early 2021 that preceded Cannon’s own appointment, and because the regular election is less than a year away, Harrell can appoint an interim commissioner to serve the remainder of the term without a vote from the rest of the board.
Knowing that an expensive special election is not necessary helped make the timing of Cannon’s decision a bit easier, he acknowledged.
“Had that not been the case, I probably would have tried to be more persistent,” he said. “But I really got tired of banging my head against a wall.”
Cannon has no plans to be involved in local party politics beyond exercising his right to vote, but for now he does intend to remain a Henry County resident and business owner.
As for his overall experience as a commissioner, he is glad he had the opportunity to do it but equally glad he is no longer on the board.
“I compare it to buying a boat,” he said. “When I won the election I was so very excited, and when I resigned I was so very excited.”
Commissioner thanks for trying to participate in the Henry County form of Democracy.. Taxes will be higher, budgets will be lower sounds like a good thing but it is not because they are waiting on the SPLOST to bail them out. . Unfortunately we have a serious issue with egos and it will only get worse..
Cant blame you for leaving….. I’m outa of this County in a very short time frame as well.. Been here 35 years and it’s time to go. Trash all over the roads, mattress laying in the ROW for days. I don’t think my commissioner Dee Clemmons gives a hoot about her district.. Only Nash Farm which will benefit Clayton County more then Henry.. Feel bad for the ones that can’t pick up and leave..
Was a great County until! Yes Dee you won’t have to deal with me much longer.. The neighbors want to know how the resurfacing in Wycliffe is coming along.. Oh, that was just a campaign promise… Sorry..
Dee and Bruce are there to knock down history and collect a paycheck..and nothing else.
Mr Cannon, Thank you for your time an effort to make a better life for the Citizens of Henry County.
Thank you for giving us your insight into the corruption that is taking place in our county. Frankly, it comes as no surprise. You should be the one staying while the others are replaced with competent people with the county’s best interest at heart.
This guy is a relic of the PAST!
If he truly believes governance shouldn’t be political, he should talk to the Idiot Republicans in DC. Henry County is growing and becoming diverse. His form of Leadership does not work in a diverse environment!
We need TRUE leaders that represent ALL the PEOPLE of the County, not just the “good ole boys” and people that look like him!!!
Good riddance Cannon! Guys like you and the GQP are scared of the truth!
“People that look like him”. Besides being a racist comment, isn’t that what this current leadership is doing? Look around and wake up.
aand there it is. When all else fails..
“His form of leadership does not work in a diverse environment!” You mean functional leadership void of political agenda that benefits ALL residents of the community? That sounds like TRUE leadership for ALL the PEOPLE of the County to me. Racism works both ways, and “Diversity” isn’t exclusive for just African Americans/Democrats. How is your ideology of “true” leadership working in Clayton, Dekalb, and Fulton Counties? How about Illinois, Michigan, California? You know what they all have in common? Failure.
They have ruined this historic county; how much more will we go down before something will be done?
My Mama always said, if you can’t deal with the heat, get out the kitchen. We should all remember, Be the change you want to see. Get involved in local politics so that your voice may be heard and listen to all sides of the story before you jump on any one sided band wagon of anyone. Regardless of, I am confident that Henry County will continue to prosper because we have great citizens who live here and are not afraid to let their voices be heard. I dont know District 3 but I do know my Commissioner personally, Bruce Holmes, and I have called on him to resolve many issues in and around our District. What i can say, when i call, he answers or tell me where to find the answer. Please don’t bark up a tree when you have no relationship with folks, that will cause unecessary drama. We can all agree or disagree, but be cordial in doing so. I still expect Heny County BOC to perform with ethics and integrity.
Henry County is changing alright, it’s becoming another democratic sewer. What’s amazing is that residents want it this way! Scratching my head…..
The local Democrats want it to be a Democratic sewer- that’s what all Democratically ran counties/states become. Taxpayer leave (as they are doing in huge numbers in Henry County and homes are all becoming rental properties), and Henry County becomes another Clayton/Dekalb County. The Board of Commissioners has been a disaster since the election of the Democrats with their own agendas who care nothing about the community who get re-elected. Corruption and ridiculousness are instant vote winners for the Democratic party voters. The same politicians give lip service and political rhetoric to “community” while pushing their own political agendas and benefits. Until huge changes are made to rid county government of these politicians, Henry County will continue to become a Democratic sewer destined for the same failure as every other Democratic ran county and state. Fear not, when Henry County is destroyed by the Democratic agenda, they will move on to the next successful non democratically ran community; it’s what they do. It’s amazing that the Democratic Party are proud of their destructive political success while failing to realize the long term consequences of their agenda.
Kudos to Mr. Cannon for attempting to be a commissioner Henry County could be proud of with the heart of the community paramount to his service. Sadly, the reality of the Democratic dysfunction and political agendas fail to make that possible. Shame on those residents that support the political agenda’s of those who have no interest in what is just and right for the community and not just the benefit of the Democratic Party.
“What i can say, when i call, he answers or tell me where to find the answer.” Priceless.
when will Henry County stand up to Holmes and his commissioners that are yes people.
We do not want HOLMES county…we want HENRY County,
A county that can work together and have officials that show up for meetingsand come to the meetings prepared.
when will Henry County stand up to Holmes and his commissioners that are yes people.
We do not want HOLMES county…we want HENRY County,