Jeff Sinyard would never say as much, but those who know him well say they think a recent Dougherty County Commission meeting at which citizens openly accused the commission chairman of letting his business association with Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital influence appointments to the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County played a roll in Sinyard’s decision to leave the commission at the end of the year.

One, who asked that his name not be used, even said, “I know Jeff, and I know what those folks said hurt him. This is a man who has given everything he has to this community for a long time, and it was pretty much a slap in the face to have people accuse him of trying to profit from his service.”

While Sinyard may or may not have been swayed by the public accusation, his pending departure shines a light on an issue that many officials say is having a negative impact on national, state and local government, but particularly at the local level. It’s getting harder and harder, these officials say, to find successful business men and women willing, or in many cases, able to offer themselves for public service.

“It’s a very limiting proposition, frankly, trying to find business people who are willing to serve in government,” said sitting District 1 Dougherty Commissioner Lamar Hudgins, who owns a pair of Albany businesses including Southern DE, which provides design and technical services. “It’s getting tougher and tougher to find anyone who isn’t retired, self-employed or with very flexible hours who even has the time to serve.

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