Public speaks out among Bibb campaign misconduct allegations

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Warner Robins Post 2 Councilman Charlie Bibb emerged victorious by a single vote as election results were certified Tuesday but has also been the topic of controversy as allegations surfaced Nov. 10 that Bibb entered the Mossy Creek Middle School voting location wearing a campaign shirt on Election Day.

Concerned citizens made their voices heard at the Houston County Board of Elections meeting on Nov. 14, where the results were certified.

A press release by the Houston County Democratic Committee claims their chair, Kristen Kiefer witnessed Bibb sitting in his vehicle outside Mossy Creek, entering the building, speaking to a poll worker, sitting in plain view of poll workers and voters, remaining in the building until the last voters left, then speaking with poll workers inside the building for an additional 10-15 minutes.

Kiefer spoke first on what she saw that night, and asked if the board would ensure poll workers are able to identify political attire and if she took the right course of action reporting the infraction to the Board of Elections first, adding the same level of effort for higher profile elections should go to local elections.

” I’ve seen people turned away at plenty of other locations for a campaign t-shirt and it didn’t happen this night. … Obviously, we all know how very close this election is and I know that federal and state elections kind of get all the attention as far as voter protection as this sort of thing goes, but, we’re down to one one vote basically determining this election,” Kiefer said. “I think maybe we should try to re-focus a little bit on how to put that same level of effort that we do into federal elections back into the local ones.”

Don Little spoke next on his own experience at the polls.

“When I went to vote, I happened to have a shirt on that had a candidate on it. I was told to turn it inside out. I’m just wondering why this didn’t happen also. It just seems to me, is inexcusable. And secondly, I would think our candidate especially an incumbent would know that. Because I was new; I didn’t know but I learned real quick,” Little said.

Jonathon Johnson spoke next, saying Kiefer was there doing her job and believed she took the right course of action. Johnson also claimed Bibb may have swayed the election if he was campaigning at the poll.

“How can we not say that that margin wasn’t taken from Ellis because of Charlie Bibb walking in and saying, ‘Will you vote for me?’” Johnson said.

Finally, Richard Weldon spoke, claiming he saw Bibb campaigning earlier at Houston Health Pavilion.

Board of Elections Chairman Henry Childs responded, saying he hears the complaints and the Board will conduct an independent investigation into the claims, by organizing a fact-finding committee. He added the board did not want to speculate on what the findings would be or a course of action.

“We’re gonna let the process run its course. We’re gonna let the truth rise to the top. We will take appropriate action once we get all the facts,” Childs said.

The board’s Registration and Elections Supervisor, Debra Presswood, would not speak about the specific allegations against Bibb to The Journal, but did tell us this is the first time she has experienced a case like this. In light of Bibb’s narrow victory at the polls, Presswood also commented on the importance of voting.

“This election is a prime example that everybody’s votes count. Voters need to know that your votes do count and you need to get out and vote. It was just too close,” Presswood said.

The Journal again reached out to Councilman Bibb but did not receive a reply before press deadline Thursday night.

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