Douglas County Interim Chair, Commissioner To Be Sworn In

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — A former sheriff and a former U.S. Naval Academy quarterback are set to be sworn in as interim Douglas County Commission chair and commissioner respectively Friday.

Gov. Brian Kemp made the appointments Thursday effective immediately. The appointments come at least a month after he suspended former Douglas County Commission Chair Dr. Romona Jackson Jones and District 1 Commissioner Henry Mitchell on April 5.

"We welcome Sheriff Miller and Mr. Dobbs to the Douglas County Commission," Acting County Administrator David Corbin said in a news release Friday. "We have been preparing orientation materials and will be ready to assist and support both of our interim commissioners, as well as have their offices at the Douglas County Courthouse ready to go."

Jones, Mitchell, Douglas County Tax Commissioner Greg Baker, former purchasing director Bill Peacock and S&A Express owner Anthony Knight were indicted in February on one count of conspiracy in restraint of free and open competition in transactions, Attorney General Chris Carr said at the time.

Jones was also indicted on one count of false statements, Carr said.

According to the indictment, the defendants were accused of helping S&A Express sail through a bidding process from May 29, 2018, and June 26, 2018. They were accused of ignoring bidding windows, opening and reviewing sealed bids and adding S&A's bid in an amount that exactly matched the lowest bid and signing a contract prior to it being voted on a commission meeting.

Miller is a 46-year veteran of law enforcement, who retired as sheriff after serving four terms in 2016, according to county officials. He began his career in 1971 with the Douglasville Police Department, where he eventually became the department's first plain-clothes detective. He was recruited to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in 1976 by former Sheriff Earl Lee, where he spent the next 23 years. He was first elected sheriff in 2001, and during his four terms, along with the Douglas County Police Department, he led the creation of two joint units, a Major Case Unit and the Felony Interception Narcotics Detection Unit. Miller also oversaw the design and construction of the new law enforcement center and county jail on Earl Lee Boulevard. The Douglas County native continues to live in Douglas County with his wife Gloria. Miller's father, Thad Miller, was also a former longtime Douglasville Police Chief, county officials said.

Dobbs is a U.S. Navy veteran and a football standout and quarterback at the U.S. Naval Academy, county officials said. During the 2009 football season, Dobbs tied an NCAA record, previously set by Tim Tebow, for the most single-season rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (27). That season, Dobbs led his team to victory in the Texas Bowl against Missouri, and he was also selected as the game's MVP. During his years at Douglas County High School, also as a football standout, Dobbs was known as "The Mayor," by fellow students, as well as his teachers. During the Douglas High commencement ceremony in 2006, Dobbs received The Faculty Cup and was voted homecoming king earlier that same year by his peers. Dobbs joined the Navy in 2011 and was assigned to the U.S.S. Oscar Austin, an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer, named after an African-American Medal of Honor winner for heroism. Dobbs completed his Naval tour of duty and returned to Douglas County, with thoughts about playing professional football in the NFL or CFL. He has spoken occasionally of his aspirations to run for U.S. President in 2040, county officials said.