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Westbrook: I'll Retire If Garrison Loses

The head of Cherokee's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has been with the county for 31 years.

Cherokee County emergency director Robby Westbrook, the man who everyone relies on when severe weather hits Cherokee County, said today that he will retire if defeats in the upcoming July 31 primary.

"I know in my heart Sheriff Garrison will win this race, but if for some reason he doesn't, I will be retiring after 31 years of service to the county I love," he wrote on his Facebook page, a space he also uses to tell residents when to take cover, when they're in the clear, and what roads to avoid after thunderstorms, snowstorms and tornadoes have passed.

The tenor of the race between Waters and Garrison has become negative in recent weeks.

In late June, Waters said his . And that same week, nearly 30-year-old photos of Garrison at a Halloween costume party surfaced in a WSB-TV report. Garrison was . At the time the photo was taken, he said he worked for the or the .

Garrison, who is in office, for what he called a stupid mistake, then accused Waters of playing dirty politics and sending the photos to WSB-TV. 

Waters, a commander with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, in a letter to Canton-Sixes Patch. And WSB-TV reporter Jodie Fleischer has said that Waters was not the source who provided the photos.

in Cherokee. In today's Facebook post, Westbrook said: "I want nothing to do with the people who are supporting Mr. Waters and I will not be associated with them at any time. Period."

Waters could not be reached for comment.

Responding via email, Garrison said: "It is not an issue. Robby will still be on the job January 1, 2013."

FACEBOOK POST FROM CHEROKEE'S EMERGENCY DIRECTOR

I wanted to let everyone know how i truly feel about the Cherokee Sheriff's race. I want nothing to do with the people who are supporting Mr. waters and I will not be associated with them at any time PERIOD! KEEP CHEROKEE SAFE AND PROFESSIONAL!

Ken Ball said it best: "Sheriff Roger Garrison endorsements (Cherokee Ledger July 11th) of Governor Deal, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Senator Isakson, Senator Chambliss, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, Speaker of the House David Ralston, Attorney General Sam Olens, Clerk of Courts Patty Baker, Woodstock Mayor Henriques, Canton Mayor Hobgood, Holly Springs Mayor Tim Downing, Ballground Mayor Rick Roberts, Waleska Mayor Doris Jones, Coroner Earl Darby. Professional Leadership that has moved Cherokee Forward for 20 years and earned Law Enforcement in Cherokee state-wide respect.

If I recall his opposition has an endorsement of an OUT of County Fraternal Organization that has nothing to do with Cherokee County.

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Cherokee Citizen July 15, 2012 at 02:30 pm
I'm actually sick at my stomach right now! Maybe we need to look to those who support this candidate financially, as well! Please also note that many of the elections over the past 20 years had no choices in our county! The Magistrate Court Judge, etc. Lets take a good look at our ballots and bring our county into the new millenium and create a community where everyone feels warmly welcomed and close to one another! Good ole boys, be gone! OMG at the things I have found! I'm actually scared out of my mind that my real name is on my posts!
JustTheFaxMaam July 15, 2012 at 02:30 pm
LOL I think the poeple that make the KKK robes would be very offended by your saying the logo was official. If you cannot tell it has been drawn on the costume then you may need to have an eye exam.
Cherokee Citizen July 15, 2012 at 02:36 pm
Google it yourself! I'm really freaking sick! Just sick! Your kids are even burning crosses in Canton?????? Really???? I bet they aren't in jail, are they???
Kary Sky 2 July 15, 2012 at 02:46 pm
Actually he would have worn it in the mid to late's 80's and the civil rights movement is considered to have peaked much earlier than that. Though I don't condone it. And I think you mean Hosea Williams who did march through Forsyth County in 1987.
Kary Sky 2 July 15, 2012 at 02:52 pm
I did google it and I could not find anything but the ACLU representing the KKK in their bid to adopt the highway.
Who's kids? What are you talking about? I haven't read or heard anything about anyone burning a cross in Canton in years? That article was from Union County?
JustTheFaxMaam July 15, 2012 at 03:09 pm
Did not even know Canton had a mortuary - where is it?
Kary Sky 2 July 15, 2012 at 03:19 pm
Maybe she took communion this morning? What an intriguing internet meltdown. I could almost imagine her running around her house locking the doors and windows then furtively peeking out the blinds. Maybe she will come back and clarify what is going on with her posts.
JustTheFaxMaam July 15, 2012 at 03:33 pm
Kary, I am beginning to think the same way. That is scary and sad! I think what she saw was a video on Youtube of a bunch of young men that were calling themselves specter ??. It was so inane that I cannot even remember what they were called. Just hope she does not take eveything she sees or hears on the WWW as the gospel but sadlly I am afraid she might.
Kary Sky 2 July 15, 2012 at 03:43 pm
She is no longer Terri Arnold she is now Cherokee Citizen. What is up with everyone changing their names on here?
Kary Sky 2 July 15, 2012 at 03:56 pm
Hmm Im not sure how to work Bing I can't get it to show up unless I search the exact title. It is a bunch of little punks being obnoxiously racist but I can't figure out how it has to do with Canton.
Kary Sky 2 July 15, 2012 at 03:59 pm
Canton OHIO
http://www.ohio.com/news/alleged-canton-cross-burning-was-for-halloween-1.120503
JustTheFaxMaam July 15, 2012 at 04:03 pm
Cherokee Citizen - you need to do a little better on your search techniques. The first link you posted said nothing about Canton period and was not mentioned at all in it. The second video you posted the link for was in Catnot, Ohio. Please check your sources before posting inaccuarate comments on here. Otherwise you are making yourself look foolish.
USAF Patriot July 16, 2012 at 12:25 am
Well I'm leaning toward David Waters. I am also a member of CERT that Robby is in charge of. Since he wants nothing to do with people that support Waters, does he want to release me from the team?
JustTheFaxMaam July 16, 2012 at 05:21 pm
Has David Waters offered you a high ranking job if he is elected? The Patch has not posted the entire story - Robby went on to say that he did not have a problem with the supporters of Mr. Waters but he did not want to work with some of the ones Mr. Waters has promised high ranking jobs to should he be elected. Have you been promised one of these high ranking jobs?
Wahrheit-Teller July 16, 2012 at 06:03 pm
@Change For Canton. I heard this audio clip on the radio on my way home today. Then I saw your gem of input. This fits so perfectly. http://youtu.be/5hfYJsQAhl0
USAF Patriot July 17, 2012 at 04:28 am
Well, straight for the attack huh? Notice I said I'm LEANING? If it is possible to get a high ranking job by talking to someone once I'll take it. Sorry to hear the whole thing did not get reported the first time but if you are in a position of responsibility it might be better not to speak. You WILL get miss quoted.
JustTheFaxMaam July 17, 2012 at 04:49 pm
USAF, it seems I owe you an apology as my post did read to be defensive when I went back and reread it. Did not mean to be, and you not knowing the full story is why I asked you about a higher paying job. May be that my knowing Robby has been through so much recently made it seen that way, but whatever, I did not mean to "attack" you. I have the greatest respect for all law enforcement that put their lives on the line daily whichever way this election goes, I believe Robby is a good man and hated to see him attacked for a personal comment he made on his FB page. One person even went so far to say good riddance, and that she hoped he and his wife would basically live happily ever after when he retires. This was not the exact wording but it still hurt me for him because I know he wihes the same.
USAF Patriot July 18, 2012 at 04:55 am
Ok, apology accepted. There is more to this than I read here. I don't know what all you mean "knowing Robby has been through so much recently" but I do recall something about an accident I think. I wish him the best no matter what he chooses.
Kary Sky 2 July 18, 2012 at 10:53 am
http://canton-ga.patch.com/articles/emergency-director-s-wife-dies
Rodney Thrash (Editor) July 18, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Point of clarification, JustTheFaxMaam. Patch did post the entire story. After we published the article, and individuals started to comment on this thread, Robby Westbrook offered additional explanation in this space. Refer to the top of the thread for his clarification.
Cherokee Citizen July 18, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I am scared of the KKK! KKK "halloween" costume? I'm sure everyone knows when a member is caught with a cross burning or in costume - halloween always the excuse!
I asked you to remove my name because I am fearful of the KKK! I know you work for Sheriff Garrison and that is scary too! Especially given the fact that you have also thrown out racial slurs in you disquise as Kary Sky! YOU ALL SCARE ME AND WE DO NEED A CHANGE!
Greenie July 18, 2012 at 07:38 pm
This video shows the removal of Political Trackers from a public campaign event. Political Trackers are employed by both parties to simply record opposing candidates when they are speaking in public forums (in hopes that the candidate will have a "slip up" that can be used against them).....It is a perfectly legal practice that is employed by both major political parties. It can be illegal to do if the political function is being held privately or if the tracker in any way tries to influence the mood of the function - such as verbally opposing the candidate, questioning them, etc. The Trackers job is to simply silently record. It appears from this video and from a few others at the same event that Senator Chambliss' staff requested that the trackers be removed and the sheriff's office obliged. These Trackers were simply doing their job at a public function, which. It appears they they were removed for no other reason except that they were employed by the Democratic Party of Georgia. The Sheriff instructed his officers to simply "talk to them" which resulted in them being impeded to preform their job. Now, I cannot say that the Sheriff was fully aware of what the trackers were doing or who they were - and clearly the officers who escorted them away from their original position were simply following orders. On a small scale this is political-bias dictating the course of law enforcement. The Sheriff's Office was duped by the Senator's office on this day.
JustTheFaxMaam July 18, 2012 at 07:39 pm
Thanks Kary Sky 2 for posting that link about Donna's death. Not sure why USAF Patriot did not hear about it since he works under Robby's direction. Maybe he was on vacation when she pased away??
JustTheFaxMaam July 18, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Rodney, the ammended portion of Robby's statement was left buried here in the comments - not made headlines news on the Patch like his first comment was. Was there a reason for that not being put out for all to see unless they read thru all the comments on here?
Rodney Thrash (Editor) July 18, 2012 at 10:49 pm
As previously stated, Robby offered further explanation AFTER our story was live and readers began to flood the site with comments. The story was published at 12:20 p.m. July 12. Responding to readers—not to us—Robby posted a comment on this thread nearly three hours later at 3:03 p.m.
JustTheFaxMaam July 18, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Thanks for the explanation but I still have a couple of questions. If you would be so kind to answer them I would much appreciate it. Can you tell me why it was not also picked up off of his personal FB page and posted as a new headline like the first one? If it had been I feel sure that it would have saved a lot of cunfusion that resulted from the omission. Also, I will be the first to admit I do not know how these online news "papers" operate, so are you able to go onto anyone's FB page and pull their personal posts?
USAF Patriot July 18, 2012 at 11:50 pm
I don't work under Robby. I am a Vol with the team his assistant runs. I did say "I do recall something about an accident" we have contact a few times a year when they call for assistance.
Common Sense July 19, 2012 at 01:20 am
You should try and get off meth!
Sunshine August 1, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Have a great day at work Robby.
J C SMITH August 1, 2012 at 02:02 pm
Looks like Robbie Westbrook will be a happy man this morning and will be around for at least another 4 YEARS!!!! Thanks for keeping Forsyth out of Cherokee County! What a GREAT win for Sheriff Garrison and What a BIG Message that was sent to all those nasty people who just could not articulate anything but ugly.

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