DEREK GOOD

The group calling for Cherokee County Commissioner Derek Good to resign has joined forces with a national organization.

The "Derek Good Resign Now" group, which submitted a petition with more than 200 signatures to the county Board of Commissioners, plans to submit another at the board's meeting on Tuesday.

Good withdrew his re-election bid for the Post 4 seat on the board, as he acknowledged he had made false claims about his military experience and education.

He has refused to resign despite calls from the public to do so. His term ends on Dec. 31.

Linda Flory of Ball Ground is among the residents in the "Derek Good Resign Now" group, which is working with The POW Network national nonprofit organization on the case.

"We are also trying to get people to attend the meeting and have a few new speakers to address the fact the Derek's lies are not minor embellishments," she said referring to Tuesday's board meeting. Mrs. Flory is a member of the Cherokee Coalition for Responsible Growth.

She said the group has talked with Doug Sterner, known for his work in support of the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, and Mary Schantag of The POW Network, and think Good could be prosecuted under the Stolen Valor Act, a federal misdemeanor.

The federal act prohibits falsely representing oneself as having been awarded any decoration authorized by the armed forces. Mrs. Flory said a judge's ruling in Colorado that the act violates the First Amendment is being appealed.

County commissioners receive an annual salary of about $30,000, plus benefits and reimbursements, and are eligible for pensions.

The POW Network has listed Good's false claims on its website and has requested Good's DD-214 military record. The Military Times website has also added Good to its "Hall of Stolen Valor."

Good on Monday said he has a copy of his DD-214, but would not make it available to the Tribune, as "those are private records."

A DD-214 is a complete and verified military service record including tenure, types of service, training, awards and promotions.

Good had claimed he was an Army Ranger and served in combat in the invasion of Panama.

He since has said that he didn't complete Ranger school, but did serve in the Army and as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Good also said he wouldn't comment further on the calls for his resignation. He has said he wouldn't resign as it would leave Post 4 constituents without representation.

Mrs. Flory said the "Derek Good Resign Now" supporters have called the board's attention to a rule that would allow them to fill his seat should he resign.

Commissioner Harry Johnston said the board can appoint a replacement if the vacancy is within 180 days of the end of the term, but there is no provision allowing the board to remove him from office.

Johnston and the rest of the board have repeatedly said they would not call on Good to resign.

"We can't force him to do it, and we respect the fact that it is his choice," he said.

Commissioner Jim Hubbard said the board doesn't plan to take any action.

"It is strictly between him and the voters," he said of Good's decision.

Mrs. Flory said if Good does not resign on Tuesday, the group's effort will turn to local state representatives to work on tougher ethics laws.

"It's not right that Derek Good gets to lie to the voters all these years, and then he is the only one that can make the decision if he should step down," she said.

State Rep. Calvin Hill (R-Hickory Flat) said if requested by the board of commissioners, the local delegation would consider legislation to give them the power to remove a commissioner.