Post 1 Commissioner Candidate Randy Bell appealed the Grand Jury’s report concerning the oath of office.
The Grand Jury stated in its report that they could not indict former Chair Commissioner Mark Chastain due to the fact that he took the state administered oath for County Commissioners and it did not require him to uphold the county charter.

Randy Bell sent five questions to State Attorney General Sam Olens. Bell requested the Attorney General write an opinion concerning the State Oath of office specifically if it required elected officials to uphold the county charter.

After receiving a letter (questions and letter below) from the Attorney Generals office stating they could not write an opinion; Bell asked the Gilmer County Commissioners at a public meeting if they would instruct the county attorney to ask for an opinion on behalf of the citizens.

If the commissioners asked for an opinion from the Attorney General on the oath the office would respond much differently than they did when Bell asked.

Remember the Grand Jury recommended the Commissioners retake an oath and they refused. Take new oath and you agree that the last Chair Commissioner broke no laws?
Refuse to take the oath and are you saying the current oath upholds the charter and laws have been broken? Which is it? It has to be one or the other it can’t be both.

Will the Commissioners seek an answer from the Attorney General that could affect every county in the state or will they just sweep another Gilmer County issue under the rug until next time?