District 2 Supervisor Trip Hairston was reelected Lowndes County Board of Supervisors president Tuesday morning, but not without sparking a confrontation with District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks over allegations of racism.
Tuesday marked the beginning of a new term for the supervisors, which means the board had to vote for a new president to serve for the next four years. Brooks made the first of what would turn out to be three successive motions to settle the issue, moving that District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith be awarded the role. Smith seconded the motion.
“(Smith) has served for 16 years on this board, but more importantly he’s been with the county for almost 40 years,” Brooks said. “I think his knowledge and experience will serve this board well.”
That vote failed 3-2, with District 1 Supervisor Matt Furnari, Hairston and District 3 Supervisor Andy Williamson voting no and Brooks and Smith voting yes.
Smith then moved, with a second from Brooks, that Brooks be awarded the role. That vote, too, failed, with the same breakdown.
Finally, Furnari moved, with a second by Williamson, that Hairston remain president. That vote passed 3-2, with Furnari, Hairston and Williamson voting yes and Brooks and Smith voting no.
Brooks minced no words, calling the decision racially motivated and rooted in white privilege.
“Y’all made this decision without regard to the two senior men on this board,” Brooks said. “… (Hairston) has said he’s good with numbers, but this isn’t about numbers. It’s about doing the right thing. … If we were white, we would be at the head of the table.”
Brooks alleged the white supervisors enjoyed advantages he and Smith, both of whom are Black, did not.
“Y’all were born on second base,” Brooks said. “(Smith) and I had to climb the fence just to get on the field.”
Furnari denied his decision was racially motivated.
“I voted for (Hairston) because he was the past president,” Furnari said. “He led us through hard times as far as COVID goes and saw some great successes as well. I chose not on color, but on who I thought was the best candidate.”
Hairston was elected president in October 2020 after then-president and District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders vacated the position following public outcry over racist statements. At that time, Brooks also decried Hairston’s elevation to the role as racist.
When the time came to elect a vice-president, Brooks moved, with a second by Williamson, that Smith be vice-president. That motion passed unanimously.
Brooks left the room and did not return after casting his vote for Smith.
After the meeting Hairston told The Dispatch he was “dispirited” Brooks cast the decision as racially motivated.
“I have a lot of respect for somebody who’s served on this board for so many years, but I don’t think it was appropriate to call names and begin a new term pointing the finger and doing things that will just divide this board,” Hairston said. “… It has nothing to do with the color of our skin, and it’s unfortunate that we had to start out this way.”
Hairston said he didn’t think the board would remain divided.
“This board, in general, has been through a lot over the years,” Hairston said. “We’ve got people back together, and I hope (Brooks) will show up at our next meeting and represent a fifth of the county.”
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
Join the Discussion