Demorest and Habersham County are expected to resume talks this month about a possible merger of the city and county fire departments. A proposal was first requested last year by Demorest City Manager Kim Simonds and Councilmen Dr. John Hendrix and Nathan Davis.
That led to a public outcry from many Demorest residents who don’t want to give up their fire department. It also set off a chaotic series of events that included allegations of backdoor politics and the firing of a popular police chief.
Demorest optometrist Hendrix, now in his second year on the council, has been at the center of the firestorm for months. He recently sent through his attorney Cease and Desist Letters to several constituents alleging “false and defamatory” statements he claims they’ve made against him and demanding retractions from them and Now Habersham for publishing those statements.
Now Habersham reached out to Dr. Hendrix regarding the letters, fire department merger, and related topics. Here, in its entirety is our email Q&A:
NH: [Hendrix consolidated his answers to the following questions]
- What is your intended purpose in sending the cease and desist letters?
- How do you respond to those who claim the letters are intended to stifle dissent?
- Did you reach out to anyone who was mailed or mentioned in your cease and desist letters to discuss your grievances or complaints with them prior to your attorney sending the letters? If so, who and when? If not, why not?
- When you and Ms. Simonds met with county officials on Feb. 28, 2020, specifically with whom did you meet and for what purpose?
- Is there anything you’d like to add?
Hendrix: As a healthcare professional for over 42 years, I have never had any political ambitions. Serving on the city council was my first, ever, experience in a public office. I was urged to do so by numerous Demorest citizens who were in discontent by the manner in which the City was managed. I serve for one reason only, that is to do what’s best for the City. My main goal was to restore Demorest residents’ confidence in our government by ensuring transparency, improving the city’s infrastructure & economic conditions, an to revive our community solidarity.
It would be fair to say that I was urged to run for Council as a political dissident of the city government in 2019. It is ironic and, somewhat hypocritical, for my political opponents, now, to suggest that I am the one intending to “stifle dissent,” as suggested in your questions. I recognize this false accusation for what it is: a case of “the pot calling the kettle black.” Not uncommon for political veterans like my opponents, but a tactic which I find distasteful. Because I ran as a political dissident, I expected to be met with political opposition and criticism. What I did not expect, was to be accused, falsely, of violating the Sunshine Laws and my oath of office. Those charges were based on lies. Because my short tenure as a Councilman has been entirely motivated by my desire to serve the best interests of my City, I took offense at those false and defamatory statements after I had announced a Cease and Desist notice during a council meeting previously, thus I asked my attorney to send the legal notices in question.
NH: Is your personal attorney still attending council meetings?
Hendrix: Perhaps, yes, if necessary in the future, but I hope that will not be the case.
NH: Please outline your reasons for voting to delay discussions on the purchase of a new fire truck? Also, is it your intent to merge the county and city fire departments? If so, why? If not, why not?
Hendrix: I have no hidden agenda regarding the fire truck and absolutely no “intent to dismantle” our fire department, as previously alleged in your publication. My abiding purpose is to protect the public safety in our City, consistent with sound financial commitments. Therefore, I am compelled to be diligent in pursuing all opportunities as well as being vigilant in my search for equatable [sic] solutions. My position regarding this matter is, apparently, contrary to that of the previous Council, which has made me the “dissident,” and it is my voice that others are trying to stifle, not the other way around.
In my view, Demorest may be a small city, but it can be an extraordinary community. My tenets as a councilman were to hear the silent majority, to recognize values of diversity, and to focus on the work that will continue beyond the status quo as we, the City’s leaders, have an obligation to set aside our personal agendas and to abide by our City Charter to cultivate community resilience and continuously assess the City’s evolving needs. When the information was made available to me about the possibility of a proposal presentation at the council meeting, Ms, Simonds, the City Manager, and I met with Mr. Sutton on February 28, 2020 to explore the possibility of a merger proposal presentation at our city council meeting. Immediately, I was accused of conducting back door meeting with the county officials by the opposition. As a result, the scheduled presentation was cancelled by the county officials and I have not spoken to any county officials regarding the fire merger since then. How can anyone accuse me of “wanting to dismantle the fire department”?
