Citizens in Sumter County call for Michael Busman, a local Americus physician, to resign from the Phoebe Sumter Hospital and the Sumter County School Boards. Driving under the influence (DUI), Busman posted bond after being arrested recently. He allegedly was involved in a motor vehicle accident when he left a Halloween Party. Dr. David Campbell, local family physician, posted a $2,000 bond. Busman refused a sample of breath for an alco-sensor evaluation, according to GA State Trooper Sgt. R. E. Odom, Jr., the arresting officer.

No stranger to local racial controversies over the years, Busman's appointment to Phoebe-Sumter Hospital's (PSH) board was contested by the citizens of Sumter and this newspaper. The CEO of PSH, Joel Wernick, ignored our request not to seat Busman on his board.

Our newspaper reported that the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners, the medical board that license doctors, investigated Busman because of alleged cocaine usage. Busman's accusers refused to testify. The medical board dropped the case. With all this information given to Wernick and PSH's leadership concerning allegations against him, Busman was appointed anyway. A Phoebe-Sumter lobbyist in Washington, DC, notified the local NAACP that "there was nothing" they could do to deny Busman a seat on the board and that the board seat lasts for only two years.

Our newspaper reported that the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners, the medical board that license doctors, investigated Busman because of alleged cocaine usage. Busman's accusers refused to testify. The medical board dropped the case. With all this information given to Wernick and PSH's leadership concerning allegations against him, Busman was appointed anyway. A Phoebe-Sumter lobbyist in Washington, DC, notified the local NAACP that "there was nothing" they could do to deny Busman a seat on the board and that the board seat lasts for only two years.

Dr. Busman chaired the Sumter County Schools' Board of Education for two terms. He now serves on the Board after not being voted as chairman again. During his two-term tenure as chairman, Busman was immersed in controversyfrom the firing of Dr. Franklin Perry, the first Black superintendent- to the hiring of two incompetent superintendents. Busman's two chairmanships and his present board status have been viewed as extremely racist. On his recommendations, the board selected Drs. Dennis McMahon and Roy Brooks. The Sumter County NAACP later learned that Dr. McMahon is a friend of Dr. Busman's mother in South Carolina. And Dr. Brooks' selection was along racial lines; the Black board members voted against hiring Brooks. White board members who were the majority voted to hire Brooks as our present superintendent.

Blacks on the Little Rock's (Arkansas) school board, who were the majority where Brooks served as superintendent, voted to terminate him. Again, the votes were along racial lines. The Brooks, McMahon and Busman triad is highly suspicious, with Busman being the link that connected the others. Because of this connection, the local NAACP has launched a financial investigation of all funds of Sumter County School.

Once again, the citizens of Sumter County urge CEO Joel Wernick of Phoebe-Sumter Hospital and the board members of Sumter School System to remove Dr. Michael Busman from their boards. As a controversial and divisive member on both boards, Dr. Busman's recent DUI is the last straw.

Driving drunk puts all of our citizens in danger. His direct contact with our school athletes sends the wrong message to the students. Ironically, Busman was named "GA Academy of Physicians "Doctor of the Year" last November.