Georgia Governor Orders Special Election After GOP Member-Elect’s Arrest

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order at the weekend to fill the seat in the Georgia House of member-elect Danny Rampey two weeks after his arrest for theft.

Kemp signed an executive order on Dec. 31, calling on the secretary of state to hold a special election on Jan. 31 to fill the northeast Georgia seat.

After his Dec. 16 arrest, Rampey, 67, who won his race for a seat in the state Assembly, decided to step aside instead of facing a possible suspension as soon as he was sworn into office with other lawmakers on Jan. 9.

The Republican, who won his primary and ran unopposed for the District 116 seat, was arrested by deputies in Barrow County. Authorities said he stole prescription narcotics at the retirement complex he manages. He was later released from custody on a $111,000 bond, Athens Banner-Herald reported.

The newly-elected state lawmaker was charged with six counts of obtaining drugs by misrepresentation or theft, six counts of exploiting an elder or disabled adult, five counts of burglary, and one count of drug possession.

According to deputies, Rampey was seen on Dec. 15 burglarizing an unoccupied unit in Winder’s Magnolia Estates, an assisted facility living Rampey manages.

Party leaders had urged Rampey to resign rather than face a possible suspension proceeding if he attempted to take office on Jan. 9, because the special election to fill the seat would only be for Republicans since Rampey didn’t have a Democratic opponent in November’s election.

In a joint statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, House Speaker Jan Jones and incoming House Speaker Jon Burns said Rampey’s withdrawal “will ensure his constituents have a voice in this session of the General Assembly after the special election is held.”

Authorities said they began investigating Rampey after receiving reports of missing prescription narcotics. Rampey and his family are the owners of a network of personal care homes in northeast Georgia.

“We had a couple of instances of him on video taking the items and today we had one as well. We actually filmed him going into the residence and taking the items,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said in comments obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald.

Smith said police served warrants on Dec. 15 at Magnolia Estates and at Rampey’s home in Statham, the outlet reported.

The Epoch Times contacted Rampey for comment.