Over the past month and a half, I have been performing Open Records Requests with the County Manager’s office. I wrote about this experience in my last publication, “Marion County Lacks Transparency, Evades Accountability, and Violates The Georgia Open Records Act.” I indicated that my open records woes began with Gwen Nesbit, Deputy County Clerk, then escalated to Connie Harris, County Manager, and then to Heather Wright, County Clerk, where I alleged and evidenced that each woman had violated the Open Records Act, was obstructive, and evasive.

I’m writing today, because Heather Wright has caused me to now change how I feel about transparency in the County Manager’s office, and just as I provided information and said things about her behavior and actions that I shared publicly with those who have or will read my previous article, I wanted to do my due diligence to now praise her and set the current record straight.

It was a rocky start for Heather and I, regarding the requests I had been making – I have been making a lot of open records requests – because there are a lot of concerns that citizens have been expressing to me. But after several back and forth emails, I have come to see that Heather has come around to meeting me in the middle, as I have sought to meet her in the middle as well. We have chosen to work together as a citizen and her or his public officer should.

I know some of you knew that the last issue I had with Heather was surrounding the USB drive that I did not originally approve. I was waiting on her to email six (6) documents, because it saved on taxpayers money, saved me in fuel to go from Moores Chapel Rd to Burkhalter Avenue, and I only had access to our vehicle on Mondays. That being said, because I saw that Heather had been quick to respond to many of my requests after these initial requests, and she was timely, I chose to bend toward her in good faith and told her that I would come and pick up the USB drive.

She did not charge me for it, so she honored her word to me, and she gave me the extra files that I asked for in lieu of me choosing to pick up the USB drive, instead of expecting her to email the six (6) budget files. I did indicate to her that I still didn’t like that a USB drive was purchased for these files, when they could have been emailed, but I told her that it was already done and we cannot take it back. I told her that I would come pick it up anyway, and that I would consider all of those previous requests, which were the point of contention in the first place, closed. I would consider her compliant, and she has even as current as today been compliant.

I have submitted several more open records requests since then and she is sometimes responsive the same day I have put in the request, and has always been timely in her written responses to me, even when we were out of sorts. She follows through with her promise of delivery and is respectful.

What Heather didn’t know is that I was testing her, which is what I always do to anyone with whom I interact, because all the ones before her had failed. I wanted to know if she was willing to accept criticism. Was she humble? Was she respectful? Was she operating above reproach? Was she trustworthy? Did she honor her word? Did she have integrity? Was she ethical? Did she uphold transparency?

Sometimes our humanity does falter, and we do not always communicate the way we should. Electronic communication stifles true communication anyway. We ruffle feathers, cause offense, misunderstand, and sometimes make enemies because of some and all of it, but in my interactions over these weeks, this is what I would like to leave with all of you who are reading – or will read in the future – about Heather Wright, County Clerk of Marion County, Georgia.

Heather Wright has been the only person, thus far, in the County Manager’s office, that has been brave enough to go toe-to-toe with me. She didn’t hide. She didn’t cower. She held her own. She took my criticisms, positive and negative, overall, to heart, and she chose to bend toward me as well. She stayed professional. She is spicy, but is also sweet. She reminded me of me. She honored me with her courage, when Connie and Gwen backed down, and threw her to the wolf, so to speak, thinking I would devour her, metaphorically, not literally, the way it appears they thought I did them.

So, the answer to all of my concerns and questions above, as they pertain to Heather Wright is “Yes.” Heather is humble. Heather is respectful. Heather can take criticism? Heather is above reproach. Heather is trustworthy. Heather honors her word. Heather has integrity. Heather is ethical. Heather upholds transparency. And I would like to add one more. Heather is truly a forgiving person as she is also forgiven.

It doesn’t matter what the answer was before. What matters is what the answer is now; and this brings me to my next point.

We know that there is a county manager position that should be posted soon to fill the vacancy due to Connie Harris’ resignation and departure in July of 2026. It is right to open that up for other applicants, but I have encouraged Heather to apply to the County Manager position. I do hope that all applicants are thoroughly considered and interviewed, and I do hope that the choice is put to a resolution and vote before the county citizens, but I also believe that Heather has been managing many of the events in Connie’s stead and she does have the experience and desire needed to bring a smooth transition to continuing operations. We need people in our public offices that are willing to serve the citizens, even if it might not always produce the best side of them, and Heather did that for me.

She gave me hope, and gives me more hope, that there are some public officers who truly do care about what they do and how they serve, and that they can change from being non-transparent to an open book. I hope that you will join me in continuing to cheer on our officers who are serving us well and be forgiving of those who have decided to do so, when they weren’t previously.

The ultimate goal is unity, forward motion, truth, and love, but that doesn’t mean that road bumps are always unavoidable in the process.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version)