Clinton receives unfavorable response to campaign announcement
Opinion September 22, 2019
EDITORIAL – Mountain Movers and Shakers announced Towns County Sheriff Chris Clinton will be their featured speaker at the group’s weekly meeting, Sept. 27. The agenda follows the sheriff’s proclamation before the Towns County Republican Party last week, stating intent to seek re-election in 2020.
If the public’s initial response to the elected official’s announcement is any indication of an approval rating, Clinton’s campaign could prove to be a challenge.
“Perhaps (Sheriff Clinton) will fill us in on the events and expected traffic for the next few months,” Mark Wolchko, a spokesman for Mountain Movers and Shakers, predicted in a press release. “Maybe he will enlighten us about the latest CLEA class. Possibly he will let us know about equipment upgrades in the sheriff’s department. Or maybe he will give us the lowdown on the next appearance of The Chris Clinton Band.”
CLEA, an acronym for the Citizen Law Enforcement Academy, consists primarily of “move-in” retirees whom Sheriff Clinton has referred to as personal “lobbyists” in the past. The group additionally serves as charity fund raisers and security staff at local events, such as concerts at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.
The majority of Mountain Movers and Shakers’ active participants are CLEA alumni.
Sheriff Clinton shined a spotlight on CLEA during his GOP campaign announcement Thursday evening at the Towns County Civic Center.
“How many folks here have been through CLEA? Do you mind raising your hands? Every group I go to in the county, everywhere we go, I got people sitting in the group that’s been through the citizen law enforcement academy,” Clinton said. “These volunteers, by the end of the year, we hit about 2,000 hours, or about what would amount to me having to ask our commissioner for the $51,000, if we were going to do it ourselves, is being done by volunteers because we have men and women who believe in what we’re doing at the sheriff’s office.”
Should Clinton choose to promote his band at Friday’s meeting, however, citizen feedback could prove less than favorable.
Sheriff Clinton performing on town square in July 2018.
Widespread disapproval of The Chris Clinton Band’s schedule was brought to FetchYourNews’ attention in relation to the 2017 “Great American Eclipse,” an event that was anticipated by Clinton to draw thousands of solar enthusiasts to the Towns County area. Sheriff Clinton, who performs with his wife in the now two-man band, opted to host a concert at a local establishment during the highly publicized event. Members of the Towns County Homeowners’ Association – since renamed the Towns County Civic Association – along with numerous first responders, voiced stern criticism toward Clinton’s priorities.
Promotion for the Chris Clinton Band’s 2017 eclipse event.
Scrutiny later emerged in July 2018, following a band performance that corresponded with a deputy missing in action, along with a county inmate, during a wilderness search for alleged human remains near Brasstown Bald.
Public comments concerning the Clintons’ “small business” and the sheriff’s elected performance continue to appear on social media in response to the official’s recent bid for re-election.
Click to read comments and view reactions on original post.
While no contenders for the Office of the Sheriff have entered the race at this time, challengers are expected to announce candidacy in coming weeks.
Sheriff Clinton is scheduled to address Mountain Movers and Shakers this Friday at 8 a.m. at Sundance Grill in Hiawassee.
Meetings are open to the public.
Feature Image: Towns County Sheriff Chris Clinton draws tickets for door prizes at Thursday’s GOP meeting.
6 Comments
Anyone thinking about voting for him needs to do their homework! He banks on fooling the uninformed!
You’ve got an outstanding and comprehensive news product — better than the weekly papers of record much of the time. Robin Webb, in particular, is everywhere — and is usually a beat faster than everyone else on Towns county news.
The one thing I’ll say is: when you begin to slip in personal vendettas under the guise of news reporting, most of your readership will catch on – and it will color the way they read the next story that reporter files….
If you want to write a column bashing Chris or any public figure, that’s fine. I don’t think, though, you should finesse it as a news story. It cheapens the rest of an otherwise fine product.
Thank you for your remarks.
“EDITORIAL” was added to the top of the article.
We love FYN for telling it like it is. Towns county was starved for truth and that is what kept this so called sheriff in office so long. We moved away a few years back but still have family and friends there and believe me when I say that those who know him want him gone. He doesn’t work, only shows his face near election time, speaks badly of not only decent citizens but good officers and has a known history of being a criminal himself. Vote him out.
Just what we need 4 more years of the most worthless sheriff in the country.
How many people need to get killed before we make this change? What devastation has to occur before we see the chaos that’s behind the curtain? It’s beyond shocking, and sad, that it’s taken this many years to see what a disservice he has done to the residents of this county. We need him out of office no matter what it takes. We need to rebuild this sheriffs office and represent what law enforcement stands for today. Which is professionalism, pride, and dedication. Clinton stands for none of these qualities. Never has. Never will.
It is a shame what an embarrassment Towns County is because of this sheriff. He is the laughing stock of North Ga. The loud mouthed wife, squawking persecution to blind followers, only serves to worsen the already poor reputation of a sick man. The proof is in the pudding. I encourage voters to do their research.