A state Republican official will step-down from an Augusta authority group because of a racially charged e-mail that he sent. Several officials have called for the resignation of Dave Barbee from the Augusta Housing Authority.
Barbee sent an August 27th e-mail to two developers concerning a plan to close a public housing project so the Medical College of Georgia can expand. Barbee wrote that new development in the area would be "high income", and would make downtown Augusta whiter.
State Senator Ed Tarver, a black Democrat, made other Augusta officials aware of the e-mail. Barbee, who is white and the GOP's chairman for the tenth congressional district, says he regretted the message became public and did not reflect his official position on the matter.
Barbee sent an August 27th e-mail to two developers concerning a plan to close a public housing project so the Medical College of Georgia can expand. Barbee wrote that new development in the area would be "high income", and would make downtown Augusta whiter.
State Senator Ed Tarver, a black Democrat, made other Augusta officials aware of the e-mail. Barbee, who is white and the GOP's chairman for the tenth congressional district, says he regretted the message became public and did not reflect his official position on the matter.
