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Page 2— Wednesday, September 20, 2023, The True Citizen Sheriff blasts “Group of 12” in social media SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com Editor's note: The True Citi zen’s reporting regarding the activities of Alfonzo Williams and Lewis Blanchard is not reflective of our support or en dorsement of either one of the current candidates. We have and will continue to report the actions of all candidates and the Board of Commissioners. Sheriff Williams was offered an opportunity to interview about his bid for re-election but he declined. The True Citizen belongs to no Group of 12, conspiring against the Sheriff, nor do we have any knowledge that such a group exists. Fur thermore, The True Citizen has no control or influence over the reporting of Augusta news outlet WRDW News 12. We have elected not to report on recent I-TEAM investigations naming residents who had not been charged with crimes. Sheriff Alfonzo Williams blasted media outlets, for mer Chief Deputy Lewis Blanchard and former Sheriff Greg Coursey on an official Facebook page early Sunday morning. In a post, Williams expressed his dismay that Blanchard was running against him in the next sheriff’s election. “I too, am surprised by this move as he had promised me for years that he would never run against me,” he wrote. Although Blanchard vowed not to engage in “drama” or a “tit-for-taf ’ race during a recent announcement dinner, and has not been known by The True Citizen to insult or belittle his opponent publicly, Williams accused Blanchard of engaging in “hate, vitriol, contempt and downright ugliness.” Although former Sher iff Greg Coursey endorsed Blanchard during the recent announcement dinner, a move Williams called “hypocritical ignorance,” Coursey never criticized the Sheriff during the event. Still, Williams called Coursey “mean-spirited and hateful” in the Facebook post. “They have joined forces to regain control of the sheriff’s office. While neither of them needs the money nor the job, both desire the power and control,” he wrote. Williams once again alluded to a “group of 12” and alleged they have orchestrated attacks on him and the people of Burke County. “The alleged I-Team discov eries are flat out lies, specula tion, and innuendo,” he said insinuating that the alleged group of 12 conspirators, in cluding Blanchard, influenced News 12 reporting. “Please take care to see just how des perate Blanchard is to attain the office of sheriff. He is willing to destroy good families and anyone else who stands in the way.” Although not all BCSO employees may agree with Williams’ leadership style and may have reached out to media anonymously, Williams blamed it on Blanchard as well. “Blanchard, after his departure from our office, worked to turn a number of former employees against the sheriff’s office — and perhaps a few current em ployees too,” Williams wrote. In the post, the Sheriff claimed he was not fazed by what he calls “jaundiced re Sheriff refuses to disclose “Group of 12” SHELLIE SMITLEY thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com The names of members be longing to a group of people conspiring against Sheriff Alfonzo Williams may only exist in the mind of the Sheriff. A September 17 open re cords request through the Burke County Sheriff’s Office website asking for the names of the members of the “Group of 12,” whom Sheriff Alfonzo Williams publicly alleges are conspiring against him, was instead met with a Certifi cate of Authenticity stating no documentation pertaining to the identity of the individuals exists. The True Citizen made the request in an effort to interview the individuals he accuses of influencing news outlets to report “fake news” while orchestrating attacks on local citizens. Williams has made several public announcements referring to the Group of 12, not as people who are opposed to his reelection, but rather individuals who are conspiring against him. “Together, the Group of 12 have orchestrated attacks on the people of Burke County and me,” the Sheriff wrote in a September 17 Facebook post. “Please take care to see just how desperate Blanchard is to attain the office of sheriff... While he will deny having in roads to News 12,1 charge you to realize I never had an FBI or GBI inquiry while he worked with me. It is happening now because it is a part of the Group of 12’s strategy.” The Sheriff has publicly accused the “Group of 12” conspirators, including County Manager Merv Waldrop and some of the Burke County Commissioners, of influenc ing rival candidate Lewis Blanchard to run for office. “The county manager and a few of the commissioners begged me to fire Blanchard because they could not work with him,” Williams wrote in the post. “...Now those same persons and others within the Group of 12 are pushing for him to run against me.” porting.” “I urge you to stop patron izing those within the group of 12,” he wrote and ironically later added, “you may call me a lot of things, but I am not a vindictive person, nor am I mean-spirited, hateful, envi ous, controlling, or power hungry. If I have power or authority, I will only use it to help others.” The True Citizen reached out to Blanchard Sunday afternoon and received the following statement: "When I decided to leave the Burke County's Sheriffs Office it was the right thing at that time and now is the right time to bring consistency, sincerity and integrity to the of fice of sheriff. I can't control or dwell on what others think or say. I believe in a healthy and respectful campaign where we focus on the issues that matter to the people we serve as I have done from day one." Blanchard also pointed out that he does not have any influ ence or say over what News 12, The True Citizen or any other media outlet reports. Aderogatory post Sunday, September 17 included this photo of Sheriff Alfonzo Williams. SEP1EIDBER to remer Come see , BRING THIS AD IN FOR $500 MONTH END TRADE ASSIST! 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