Dear Editor,
As citizens of Putnam County, we are alarmed and outraged by credible reports regarding the actions of the Putnam Development Authority (PDA). It has been confirmed that the PDA held a so-called “Town Hall” meeting on Feb. 4 behind closed doors.
We have now learned of a second secretive meeting on Feb. 26, where developers, business owners, and PDA members reportedly gathered to discuss influencing and strategically shaping the upcoming Board of Commissioners election. This pattern raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the improper use of authority.
Compounding these concerns, an unidentified polling firm has begun contacting Putnam County residents, asking targeted questions about tax abatements, the PDA, the proposed rock quarry, data centers, coal ash, and even specific local businesses such as Putnam Stone.
Taken together, these actions suggest a coordinated effort to shape public perception and influence local governance without public knowledge or consent. When activity is concealed and coordinated in this way, citizens have every reason to question its intent.
The PDA is not an elected body. It is appointed by the Board of Commissioners and exists to serve a narrowly defined public purpose. Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 36-62), development authorities are tasked solely with promoting industry, commerce, and employment opportunities. Their authority is limited to economic development functions — such as issuing bonds, offering incentives, and attracting business investment. Nowhere does that authority extend to political maneuvering, candidate recruitment, or election influence.
If the PDA is attempting to identify, recruit, or “develop” future commissioners, it represents a dangerous inversion of the proper chain of accountability. The Board of Commissioners is meant to oversee the PDA — not the other way around. In my opinion, any effort by an appointed authority to shape the composition of its own oversight body undermines democratic governance.
Additionally, PDA board members are bound by Georgia’s Code of Ethics (O.C.G.A. § 45-10-3), which requires them to uphold the public trust and avoid conduct that brings discredit to their position. Engaging in activities that could be perceived as self-serving, politically manipulative, or lacking transparency directly violates both the spirit and the letter of these ethical obligations.
The citizens of Putnam County deserve leadership that is accountable to the people — not to an unelected board attempting to influence who governs them. We deserve transparency, integrity, and strict adherence to the law.
We call on fellow residents to demand full disclosure of these meetings, the identities and roles of those involved, and the source of any polling efforts currently underway. Most importantly, we urge voters to carefully evaluate all candidates based on their independence, commitment to ethical governance, fiscal responsibility, and willingness to provide proper oversight of county authorities.
The integrity of our local government depends on it.
Sharron Callahan Putnam County