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By Megan Anderson
HOMETOWN NEWS
Controversy continues to surround the Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Office after two clerks, Kathy Love and Michelle Tucker, were fired on Monday. VA Officer Sammy Willard made the decision to let the long-term employees go while his office is being investigated by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the state Attorney General’s Office.
Love and Tucker had both testified against Willard to the Cherokee County Legislative Delegation during a July meeting. The women discussed accusations against Willard that began surfacing last January, after the Office Director was involved in a public confrontation with veteran Tom Reid, a Gaffney City Councilman.
After the firings, the Legislative Delegation held a special session on Tuesday, but no action was taken because Reps. Dennis Moss and Lanny Littlejohn did not attend.
More than 50 local veterans, however, showed up for a meeting with Willard and Delegation members Sen. Harvey Peeler and Rep. Olin Phillips.
Willard said he felt like he had no choice but to terminate the two women after they testified about what he calls “unfounded accusations” against him over two months ago.
“I tried to carry on day-to-day operations, but I just couldn’t anymore,” he said.
Without a quorum, Peeler and Phillips decided to wait for the state investigation to conclude before taking any action.
But before ending the meeting, Peeler publicly asked Willard if he wished to continue his job, despite the controversy.
“Let me state emphatically – I love my job,” he said. “I still want to protect the veterans of Cherokee County. I am confident that there is no evidence for SLED to charge me with.”
megan@hometown-news.com
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