Hart Co Commissioner Carter Still Able to Run for Re-Election

Hart County Commissioner Ricky Carter’s arrest over the weekend does not affect his ability to run for re-election for District 4.

Carter, a Republican, qualified to run for re-election and is running against Republican challenger Jeff Dale Brown. That race will be held on May 24.

Carter was first elected to the Hart County Board of Commissioners in 2012 and has been re-elected twice since then.

As with the 2019 arrest of former Hart County Commissioner RC Oglesby on Racketeering charges, Carter is eligible to run for re-election unless removed from office by the State.

That process would not begin unless he is indicted by a Hart County Grand Jury, according to the attorney for Hart County, Walter Gordon who spoke to WLHR News about that process in 2019 shortly after Oglesby’s arrest.

“There is a state process that can deal with an elected official charged with a crime,” Gordon said.“That process, however, is triggered upon felony indictment, not arrest. The Governor then appoints a three-person panel, consisting of the Attorney General of the State or his designate and two county commissioners from other counties. They would then become a panel of inquiry and would examine the circumstances. I’ve never been to one so I don’t the exact procedure they follow. They would then make a recommendation to the Governor whether to suspend temporarily or permanently or declare the office vacant.

A three-panel committee appointed by Governor Kemp recommended  Oglesby be removed from office after he was indicted earlier that year by a Hart County Grand Jury. In October 2020, the Governor ordered Oglesby removed from office.

However, his case still has not gone to trial and Oglesby has not been convicted of any crime. Oglesby ran for office last November in an attempt to win back his District 1 seat but lost.

According to the Hart County Clerk of Court’s office, a new Grand Jury is not scheduled to convene until August.

Should a Hart County Grand Jury find there is enough evidence to render an indictment against Carter, then a removal from office process could kick in at the State level, not the County level, should he win re-election.

According to Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland, Carter, and his son 34-year old Jake Elliott Carter, went to the home of Ricky Carter’s brother-in-law, identified as Jack Williford on Highway 77 around midnight Saturday.

When they arrived, Ricky Carter’s son, Jake allegedly assaulted his uncle, beating him and causing serious injuries.

Sheriff Cleveland told WLHR News that as Carter’s son was attacking Williford, a neighbor tried to intervene by pulling Jake Carter off of Williford as Williford’s three grandchildren watched from a window.

That’s when, the Sheriff said, Ricky Carter pointed a gun at the neighbor and threatened him.

Cleveland tells WLHR News a dispute between the Carters and Williford started earlier in the day reportedly over Carter’s children playing in Williford’s pond.

James Rick Carter, 64, was arrested and charged with Terroristic Threats and Acts and Pointing a gun/pistol towards another.

Jake Carter is charged with Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, Terroristic Threats and Acts, and three (3) charges of Cruelty to Children in the 3rd Degree.

Sheriff Cleveland stated that the investigation is continuing and more charges are pending

WLHR News will continue to follow this story and bring you more information as it becomes available.