*cross-posted at MB's Word on the Street
Friends, I remember it vividly, as I know many of you do as well.
That glorious moment in November of 2015 when the unthinkable happened. An event that many said would never happen: the home county finally ridded itself of its caustic county attorney, the one & only William Thomas “Tommy” Craig.
Hard to believe that’s been 8 & 1/2 years ago.
Unfortunately, before too long, the Newton County Sheriff - Ezell Brown - started to help his old friend out.
When Craig was the county atty making usually right around a cool million dollars per year, Brown was utilizing Craig as attorney for the Sheriff’s department, but was only paying him on average around $50K per annum.
But soon after Tommy got the boot from the county, Ezell’s payments to Craig exploded!
For several years those numbers grew. I reported on this a couple of times over the years
Here it is:
For FY 2023, the most recent year for which full numbers exist, the Sheriff’s department paid Wm Thomas Craig, Esq. $315,447. It’s my understanding that a Sheriff of the size of Newton Co should NOT be paying anywhere near this sum.
It certainly ain’t chump change.
3/4 of the way through FY 2024 Ezell has already paid him $252,944 so it’s looking as if the ole fella will end up getting about the same amount here in a couple of months when we end the fiscal year at the end of June.
Ezell Brown has paid Tommy Craig upwards of $2 million over the last several years.
But he’s not the only one cutting checks to Craig.
Marcus Jordan, current Tax Commissioner for the home county, has also been utilizing Craig as legal counsel for his constitutional office. Has been for several years. His numbers haven’t been anywhere near the Sheriff’s, but is fairly considerable.
Tax Commish Payments to WTC:
FY2023: $29,825
FY2024 (through nine months): $21,925
So basically Tommy Craig has been making approx $350K per year just from Ezell & Jordan. Definitely not like the old days for him, but not too shabby. Probably was key to him fixing up the old place on College Ave a while back after it’d fallen into a pretty bad state of disrepair.
My, my, my…
A final thought.
As many know, it’s looking as if this current election cycle is a clear delineation of sides. The pro-Tommy Craig crew vs. the Anti-Craig slate. BOC 5, BOC 3, Clerk of Court, Tax Commish & the Chairman race. I believe they all have that same dynamic involved.
Stay tuned for the breakdown of all of those races.
DEVELOPING…
’til next time,
- MBM
