The Mayor of Thomasville has been suspended from his post by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. Mayor Greg Hobbs was indicted by a grand jury in February for making a false report of a crime and false statements.
Hobbs' suspension is effective immediately. The April 2 Executive Order by Gov. Brian Kemp cites a recommendation by a review commission that Hobbs be suspended for falsely reporting a crime. Hobbs claimed his signature had been forged in a payroll document and demanded the Georgia Bureau of Investigation look into it. The GBI determined it was his signature.
The commission found the mayor’s actions had an adverse effect on the office of the Mayor and City of Thomasville.
Hobbs is suspended indefinitely until the case s resolved or until his term expires, whichever happens first. He was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2017. It expires December 31st 2021.
He's also facing at least four separate lawsuits relating to defamation and public records.
*Correction: An earlier version of this story stated Hobbs was indicted for payroll forgery. He was indicted for false report of a crime, making false statements and violating his oath of office.