Dougherty’s Spencer Lee to retire
Veteran county attorney has served for more than four decades
ALBANY, GA – For the first time since 1979, Dougherty County is in the market for legal representation.
Longtime county attorney Spencer Lee says he’ll step away from the job come January.
Lee relayed his retirement intentions earlier today, hand delivering the following resignation letter to commissioners.
Dear Chairman Cohilas and Commissioners Newsome, Edwards, Johnson, Gray, Gaines and Jones:
As I reflect on my near-eightieth birthday, I realize how happy I am to have the blessings of good health and to have been given the opportunity to serve you and Dougherty County as district attorney since January by both this commission and previous commissions 1979. During those nearly 42 years of service, my approach was to represent the district, to provide you with legal opinions that reflect a precise interpretation of the law with an impartial bias. That approach must have been reasonably successful, as you and previous commissions have kept me as district attorney over and over. I have always served “at will of the Commission”, which means that you can terminate my employment at any time and without giving reasons with four votes. I am honored that you never took this action.
During my service, public service engagement has allowed me to participate in the growth of my community, even if you disagreed with my positions. I remember the time I helped promote and draft a comprehensive and controversial sign regulation for both the city and county and started discussing / promoting it at a meeting of the commission. Commissioner Lamar Hudgins said politely, “Spencer, if you give legal advice, stay where you are. If not, please go forward and address the Commission as a delegation from the podium. ”Lamar then referred to me as the Commissioner of the Seventh District.
With this in mind, and for no other reason, it is time to inform you that I will be closing my law firm with effect from the first Monday in January 2022. However, I am not retiring in the sense that retirement means “pulling out” or going away “as I have no intention of” hanging up my rock and roll shoes! “Lacy and I will continue to be in the community live that we love and partake of all that it has to offer.
In all my years of service, I have really enjoyed getting to know each of you and each former Commissioner not only as customers but also as friends. I have also had the privilege of working with so many knowledgeable and caring employees from Dougherty County. The value of these acquaintances and friendships is impossible to measure
However, I have not yet “left” the building and I hope to continue my work as District Attorney through January 3, 2022 to work with each of you, the District Administrator and District staff, to ensure a smooth transition from my office a new district administrator.
In conclusion, I would like to mention some of the important problems the county will face in the near future, the redistribution of the counties of the county commission with the aim of achieving “one person – one vote” without discriminating against the voting rights of minorities based on The results of the 2020 census will be of the utmost importance. As you know, I participated in the efforts of the District Commission after the 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 census, in addition to a joint effort to unite / consolidate cities and districts after the 2000 census. As this issue is before you again, add I am updating this redistribution effort with this letter.
Let us move forward in this brave new world.
Spencer Lee, Dougherty County, Georgia District Attorney
