Jerry deBin, former Washington, Georgia city administrator wants more than $500,000 says discriminated against because he is white.

On July 12, 2024, a letter was delivered via email to Washington city attorney Adam Nelson on behalf of former city administrator Jerry deBin. The letter was sent by attorneys Edward D. Buckley and Ashley Wilson Clark of the law firm Buckley Bala Wilson and Mew of Atlanta.

The letter states that deBin was terminated on June 14, 2024, and asserts that deBin was discriminated against and terminated because he is white. The letter goes on to indicate a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“By all metrics, Mr. deBin did an excellent job in his role as City Administrator.” He was hired for the role of city administrator in March 2020.

The letter also says “The city has a deep divide along racial lines, a reality which has adversely impacted the work of the city council, which is made up of three black members (Cullars, Mahoney and Hill) and three white members (Fisher, Anderson and Gunter).

In the letter deBin claims Cullars, Hill and Mahoney are discriminatory toward him because of “his race” and specifically mentions an incident between Cullars Sr. and former mayor Bill deGolian a few years ago when the two men were engaged in a heated verbal altercation as a result of deGolian telling Cullars Sr. he couldn’t wear a T-shirt with George Floyd on it, in a photo that was to hang in city hall. In that incident Cullars Sr. called deGolian a "cracker."

It's unclear how this is evidence Cullars, Hill and Mahoney are racially bias against deBin.

The letter states that on June 10, 2024, deBin was ill and unable to attend the June city council meeting. He claims that Cullars, Hill and Mahoney took the opportunity of his absence to go into executive session and invited a “black employee” of the city to voice “bogus grievances” against him. He also alleges that councilman Fisher and Gunter only voted in favor of asking for his resignation “because of the discriminatory influence of Cullars, Mahoney and Hill.” He claims the new council members “lack of experience and institutional knowledge of Mr. deBin’s overall stellar track record” were the only reason they voted in favor. He says he wasn't given the opportunity to refute the allegations made against him.

The letter goes on to say, “It is evident based upon facts at issue here that but for Mr. deBin’s race, he would not have been terminated.”

In the letter deBin alleges a “complete disruption of his life and significant financial loss.” He claims the city violated the law by terminating him and suggests the best interest of both parties is a prompt settlement. He is asking for lost wages, compensatory damages and an award of his attorney fees and costs of litigation. He also says the severance the city has offered  does not reflect the “significant value that he brought to the city” and he will release “all of his claims against the city in exchange for the following sums of money:

$360,000 representing three years of his base salary through the age 67 when he intended to retire.

$150,000 in compensatory damages

A separate payment for all vacation/flex pay accrued as of the date of Mr. deBin’s separation of employment.

The city municipal code states a city administrator who is terminated is eligible to receive six months of salary as severance.

There has been no statement made as to the reason the city council voted to ask for deBin’s resignation at the June city council meeting. I have reached out to the mayor and members of city council and will update with their responses if they provide them.

If you have any information, thoughts or knowledge regarding deBin’s accusation or termination, you can contact us or email us at washingtongainformer@gmail.com We want to hear from you.