Augusta mayor supported Few as fire chief

AUGUSTA - The mayor of Augusta says he wrote a letter or recommendation for Ronnie Few when he applied to become fire chief two years ago in Washington, D.C. <br> <br> Mayor Bob Young said Thursday that Few asked him for the letter and that Young wanted to get rid of him. <br> <br> Young told The Augusta Chronicle he would have been more forthright about the fire chief&#39;s shortcomings if anyone in D.C. had checked references. But he said no one did. <br> <br> Young&#39;s comments came a day after a Richmond County special grand jury released a 124-page report that harshly criticized Few&#39;s tenure as fire chief of the Augusta-Richmond County department. The report outlined alleged misspending, improper handling of money, cronyism and improper promotions. Young&#39;s letter to the District minimized the grand jury probe. <br> <br> A spokesman for D.C.&#39;s mayor criticized Young for writing the letter. <br> <br> Few announced his resignation as D.C. fire chief last month, effective July 31, after reports that he and some of his deputies had inflated their resumes. <br> <br> In Georgia, a criminal probe of Few&#39;s management is under way. It&#39;s being headed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/7/192538